Non-human animals models of retinoschisis

ABSTRACT

Non-human animals suitable for use as animal models for Retinoschisis are provided. In some embodiments, provided non-human animals are characterized by a disruption in a Retinoschisin-1 locus. In some embodiments, provided non-human animals are characterized by a mutant Retinoschisin-1 gene. The non-human animals may be described, in some embodiments, as having a phenotype that includes the development of one or more symptoms or phenotypes associated with Retinoschisis. Methods of identifying therapeutic candidates that may be used to prevent, delay or treat Retinoschisis or eye-related diseases, disorders or conditions are also provided.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/905,068, filed Feb. 26, 2018, which claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/463,872, filed Feb. 27, 2017, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/576,256, filed Oct. 24, 2017, the entire contents of both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF SEQUENCE LISTING

The Sequence Listing in the ASCII text file, named as 35518Z_10328 US02_SequenceListing.txt of 117 KB, created on Jun. 8, 2021, and submitted to the United States Patent and Trademark Office via EFS-Web, is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 180 million people worldwide are visually disabled, of which almost 6 million account for all causes of childhood blindness (Blindness: Vision 2020, The Global Initiative for the Elimination of Avoidable Blindness, Fact Sheet No. 213, The World Health Organization, revised 2000). X-linked juvenile Retinoschisis (XLRS), caused by mutations in the Retinoschisin-1 (Rs1) gene, is an early-onset macular degeneration in male children characterized by a splitting of the inner layers of the retina resulting in severe loss of vision. Current treatment options are limited to low vision aids such as optical (e.g., magnifier), non-optical (e.g., task lighting, reading stands, etc.) and electronic devices.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure encompasses the recognition that it is desirable to engineer non-human animals to provide improved in vivo systems for identifying and developing new therapeutics and, in some embodiments, therapeutic regimens, which can be used for the treatment and/or prevention of Retinoschisis (e.g., X-linked Retinoschisis). In some embodiments, in vivo systems described herein can be used for identifying and developing new therapeutics for treating eye-related diseases, disorders and/or conditions. In some embodiments, provided in vivo systems can also be used for identifying and developing new therapeutics for treating diseases, disorders, and/or conditions associated with vision loss. Provided non-human animals, in some embodiments, comprise a disruption in an Rs1 gene and/or otherwise functionally silenced Rs1 gene, such that a host RS1 polypeptide is not expressed or produced, and are desirable, for example, for use in identifying and developing therapeutics that restore and/or improve retinal structure and/or function. Non-human animals are also provided that comprise an engineered, variant or mutant Rs1 gene such that a variant or mutant RS1 polypeptide is produced from the engineered, variant or mutant Rs1 gene, and are desirable, for example, for use in identifying and developing therapeutics that restore and/or improve retinal structure and/or function. In some embodiments, non-human animals described herein provide improved in vivo systems (or models) for Retinoschisis. In some embodiments, non-human animals described herein provide improved in vivo systems (or models) for eye-related diseases, disorders, and/or conditions.

In some embodiments, non-human animals desirable for use as animal models for Retinoschisis are provided.

In various embodiments, provided non-human animals are characterized by a disruption (e.g., a deletion of a coding region, in whole or in part) or mutation (e.g., one or more point mutations in a coding sequence) in an Rs1 gene. In some embodiments, a disruption or mutation in an Rs1 gene affects one or more retinas of a non-human animal comprising the disruption or mutation. In some embodiments, a disruption or mutation in an Rs1 gene of a non-human animal as described herein results in the formation, development or emergence of one or more of the following phenotypes in the non-human animal: Retinoschisis-like phenotype (e.g., splitting of inner retinal layers, retinal degeneration, and decrease of visual acuity); schisis of the macula or retina; deterioration of visual acuity; retinal fibrosis; and retinal pigmentation; and in certain embodiments, the phenotypes include the development of cystic structures within the inner retina, and reduced ERG b- and a-wave responses as compared to wild type non-human animals, followed by a loss of photoreceptor cells. In some embodiments, a disruption or mutation in an Rs1 gene of a non-human animal as described herein results in early-onset (for example, at or by postnatal day 15, 18, 21, 24 or 27) functional and morphological phenotypes of the retina in the non-human animal. In some embodiments, the early-onset functional defects of the retina may be reflected by (i) reduced b-wave relative to a-wave (resulting in negative ERG) in dark-adapted and light-adapted ERG analyses; (ii) decreased maximum response and sensitivity values of ERG b-waves; (iii) decreased maximum response values of ERG a-waves; or (iv) a combination of (i)-(iii), as compared to wild type non-human animals. In some embodiments, early-onset morphological defects of the retina may be reflected by schisis, a broader ellipsoid zone (EZ), thinner outer retina, or a combination thereof, as compared to wild type non-human animals.

In some embodiments, a disruption (e.g., a deletion) or a mutation in a non-human Rs1 gene is a disruption or mutation of an endogenous Rs1 gene at an endogenous Rs1 locus. In some embodiments, a disruption (e.g., a deletion) in a non-human Rs1 gene results from an insertion of a nucleic acid sequence into an endogenous Rs1 gene at an endogenous Rs1 locus that, in some certain embodiments, comprises a reporter gene. In some embodiments, a disruption is or comprises a deletion, in whole or in part, of an endogenous Rs1 gene that eliminates expression or production of the gene product (e.g., mRNA or polypeptide). In some embodiments, a mutation (e.g., a point mutation) in a non-human Rs1 gene results from an insertion of a nucleic acid sequence into an endogenous Rs1 gene at an endogenous Rs1 locus that, in some certain embodiments, comprises a synthetic exon (e.g., a synthetic exon comprising a point mutation). In some embodiments, a mutation is or comprises one or more point mutations in an Rs1 gene that results in the expression of a variant RS1 polypeptide that has reduced or altered function as compared to a wild-type RS1 polypeptide; in some certain embodiments, the level of a variant RS1 polypeptide in a non-human animal is less than the level of a wild-type RS1 polypeptide in a wild type non-human animal. In some embodiments, a variant RS1 polypeptide as described herein includes one or more amino acid substitutions as compared to a wild type RS1 polypeptide.

In some embodiments, provided non-human animals have a genome comprising an engineered Rs1 gene. In some embodiments, the engineered Rs1 gene is located at an endogenous Rs1 locus; and in other embodiments, the engineered Rs1 gene is located at a different locus. In some embodiments, an engineered Rs1 gene is or comprises a heterologous Rs1 gene (e.g., a human Rs1 gene). In some embodiments, an engineered Rs1 gene includes genetic material that encodes a heterologous RS1 polypeptide, in whole or in part. In some embodiments, an engineered Rs1 gene includes genetic material that encodes a discoidin domain of a heterologous polypeptide, which discoidin domain contains an amino acid substitution as compared to a wild-type or parental heterologous RS1 polypeptide. In some embodiments, an engineered Rs1 gene includes one or more mutations as compared to a wild-type or parental Rs1 gene (e.g., endogenous or homolog) that results in the expression of a variant RS1 polypeptide. In some embodiments, an engineered Rs1 gene includes genetic material that encodes a discoidin domain of a rodent RS1 polypeptide, which discoidin domain contains an amino acid substitution as compared to a wild-type or parental rodent RS1 polypeptide. In some embodiments, an engineered Rs1 gene includes genetic material that encodes a discoidin domain of a heterologous RS1 polypeptide, which discoidin domain contains an amino acid substitution as compared to a wild-type or parental heterologous RS1 polypeptide; for example, an engineered Rs1 gene includes a nucleotide sequence that encodes a discoidin domain of a human RS1 polypeptide, which discoidin domain contains an amino acid substitution as compared to a wild-type human RS1 polypeptide. In some embodiments, a discoidin domain of an RS1 polypeptide encoded by an engineered Rs1 gene as described herein includes one or more amino acid substitutions as compared to a wild-type or parental RS1 polypeptide. Thus, in some embodiments, an engineered Rs1 gene of a non-human animal as described herein encodes an RS1 polypeptide characterized by a discoidin domain that includes an amino acid substitution (e.g., a variant RS1 polypeptide).

In some embodiments, a non-human animal comprising in its genome a deletion, in whole or in part, of the coding sequence of an endogenous Rs1 gene at an endogenous Rs1 locus is provided. In some embodiments, a deletion results in the lack of a functional RS1 polypeptide made from an Rs1 locus. In some embodiments, a deletion is of at least exons 2-3. In some certain embodiments, a deletion is of at least a portion of exon 1 and exons 2-3. In some embodiments, a deletion is or comprises the nucleotides of an endogenous Rs1 gene spanning immediately 3′ of the start (ATG) codon to the last six nucleotides of exon three, inclusive. In some embodiments, an Rs1 locus comprising a deletion further comprises a reporter gene. In some embodiments, a reporter gene is operably linked to an Rs1 promoter. In some embodiments, an Rs1 promoter is an endogenous Rs1 promoter (e.g., the endogenous Rs1 promoter at the Rs1 locus comprising a deletion). In some embodiments, an Rs1 promoter is a heterologous Rs1 promoter.

In some embodiments, an Rs1 locus lacks (or includes a deletion of) a portion of exon 1 and exons 2-3, e.g., lacks the nucleotides from immediately 3′ of the start (ATG) codon through exon 2 to the last six nucleotides of exon 3, and comprises a reporter gene coding sequence that is fused in-frame to the start (ATG) codon of the Rs1 locus. In some certain embodiments, a reporter gene coding sequence (e.g., the coding sequence of a lacZ gene) is operably linked to (or under the transcriptional control of) an endogenous Rs1 promoter at the Rs1 locus.

In some embodiments, a reporter gene is a lacZ gene. In some embodiments, a reporter is selected from the group consisting of luciferase, green fluorescent protein (GFP), enhanced GFP (eGFP), cyan fluorescent protein (CFP), yellow fluorescent protein (YFP), enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (eYFP), blue fluorescent protein (BFP), enhanced blue fluorescent protein (eBFP), DsRed, and MmGFP. In some embodiments, expression pattern of a reporter gene resembles the expression pattern of an Rs1 gene (e.g., a wild-type Rs1 gene at an Rs1 locus). In some embodiments, expression of a reporter gene resembles the expression pattern of a wild-type or parental RS1 polypeptide.

In some embodiments, a non-human animal is provided whose genome comprises an engineered Rs1 gene, which engineered Rs1 gene comprises one or more point mutations in an exon and encodes an RS1 polypeptide having one or more amino acid substitutions as compared to a wild type RS1 polypeptide. An RS1 polypeptide having one or more amino acid substitutions as compared to a wild type RS1 polypeptide is also referred to herein as a variant or mutant RS1 polypeptide.

In some embodiments, the amino acid substitutions described herein result in elimination or significant reduction in the level of functional RS1 polypeptide produced in a non-human animal due to, for example, protein misfolding which may result in the aggregation of variant (or mutant) RS1 polypeptide localized in the endoplasmic reticulum of a non-human animal as described herein, defective disulfide-linked subunit assembly, and inability of RS1 polypeptide to be inserted into the membrane of the ER as part of the protein secretion process.

In some embodiments, a variant RS1 polypeptide includes an amino acid substitution in the signal sequence, for example, a substitution of a hydrophobic residue with proline or with a hydrophilic or charged residue.

In some embodiments, a variant RS1 polypeptide includes an amino acid substitution in the regions flanking the discoidin domain, i.e., in the RS1 region and the C-terminal segment of an RS1 polypeptide. In some embodiments, a variant RS1 polypeptide includes a substitution of a cysteine at a position selected from the group consisting of 38, 40, 59 and 223. In some embodiments, a variant RS1 polypeptide includes a C59S substitution.

In some embodiments, a variant RS1 polypeptide includes an amino acid substitution in the discoidin domain. In some embodiments, a variant RS1 polypeptide includes a substitution of a cysteine at a position selected from the group consisting of 63, 83, 110, 142 and 219 with a non-cysteine residue. In other embodiments, a variant RS1 polypeptide includes a substitution of a non-cysteine residue in the discoidin domain with cysteine. In specific embodiments, the substituion is an R141C substitution. In some embodiments, a variant RS1 polypeptide includes a substitution in the discoidin domain of a charged residue with a non-charged residue, a non-charged residue with a charged residue, or a charged residue with a reversely charged residue. In other embodiments, a variant RS1 polypeptide includes a substitution in the discoidin domain by insertion or removal of proline (i.e., replacing a proline residue with another residue, or vice versa). In still other embodiments, a variant RS1 polypeptide includes a substitution in the discoidin domain by insertion or removal of a polar residue (i.e., replacing a polar residue with a non-polar residue, or vice versa).

In some embodiments, a non-human animal is provided that expresses an RS1 polypeptide that includes an amino acid substitution; in some certain embodiments, a C59S or R141C substitution. In some embodiments, an engineered Rs1 gene comprises a point mutation in exon three and encodes an RS1 polypeptide having a C59S substitution; in some certain embodiments, a point mutation in exon three is or comprise a codon change of TGT to AGT. In some embodiments, an engineered Rs1 gene comprises a point mutation in exon five and encodes an RS1 polypeptide having a R141C substitution; in some certain embodiments, a point mutation in exon five is or comprises a codon change of CGC to TGC.

In some embodiments, a non-human animal disclosed herein is a male animal. A male animal comprising a disruption or mutation in an Rs1 gene at an endogenous Rs1 locus on the X chromosome is also understood to be hemizygous for the disruption or mutation.

In some embodiments, a provided non-human animal is a female animal. In some embodiments, a female non-human animal is homozygous or heterozygous for a deletion in an Rs1 gene at an endogenous Rs1 locus as described herein. In some embodiments, a female non-human animal is homozygous or heterozygous for an engineered (or mutant) Rs1 gene as described herein which, in some embodiments, is at an endogenous Rs1 locus.

In some embodiments, an engineered Rs1 gene further comprises one or more selection markers. In some embodiments, an engineered Rs1 gene further comprises one or more site-specific recombinase recognition sites. In some embodiments, an engineered Rs1 gene further comprises a recombinase gene and a selection marker flanked by the one or more site-specific recombinase recognition sites, which site-specific recombinase recognition sites are oriented to direct an excision.

In some embodiments, one or more site-specific recombinase recognition sites include loxP, lox511, lox2272, lox2372, lox66, lox71, loxM2, lox5171, FRT, FRT11, FRT71, attp, att, FRT, Dre, rox, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, a recombinase gene is selected from the group consisting of Cre, Flp (e.g., Flpe, Flpo) and Dre. In some certain embodiments, one or more site-specific recombinase recognition sites are lox (e.g., loxP) sites, and a recombinase gene encodes a Cre recombinase.

In some embodiments, a recombinase gene is operably linked to a promoter that drives expression of the recombinase gene in differentiated cells and does not drive expression of the recombinase gene in undifferentiated cells. In some embodiments, a recombinase gene is operably linked to a promoter that is transcriptionally competent and developmentally regulated.

In some embodiments of a recombinase gene operably linked to a promoter, the promoter is selected from the group consisting of protamine (Prot; e.g., Protl or Prot5), Blimpl, Blimpl (1 kb fragment), Blimpl (2 kb fragment), Gata6, Gata4, Igf2, Lhx2, Lhx5, and Pax3. In some embodiments of a recombinase gene operably linked to a promoter, the promoter is or comprises SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:31, or SEQ ID NO:32. In some embodiments of a recombinase gene operably linked to a promoter, the promoter is or comprises SEQ ID NO:30.

In some embodiments, a selectable marker is selected from group consisting of neomycin phosphotransferase (neo^(R)), hygromycin B phosphotransferase (hyg^(R)), puromycin-N-acetyltransferase (puro^(R)), blasticidin S deaminase (bsr^(R)), xanthine/guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (gpt), and Herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-tk). In some embodiments, a selectable marker is under the transcriptional control of a promoter selected from the group consisting of an UbC promoter, Ubi promoter, hCMV promoter, mCMV promoter, CAGGS promoter, EF1 promoter, pgkl promoter, beta-actin promoter, and a ROSA26 promoter. In some certain embodiments, a selectable marker is neo^(R) or hyg^(R) and is under the transcriptional control of a Ubi promoter.

In some embodiments, a provided non-human animal develops one or more signs, symptoms and/or conditions of (or associated with) Retinoschisis.

In some embodiments, an isolated non-human cell or tissue is provided whose genome comprises (i) a deletion, in whole or in part, of the coding sequence in an endogenous Rs1 gene at an endogenous Rs1 locus, or (ii) an engineered Rs1 gene comprising one or more point mutations in an exon and encodes an RS1 polypeptide having one or more amino acid substitutions wherein the engineered Rs1 gene is in some embodiments at an endogenous Rs1 locus. In some embodiments, a cell is a lymphocyte. In some embodiments, a cell is selected from a B cell, dendritic cell, macrophage, monocyte, and a T cell. In some embodiments, a cell is derived from or related to a cell type of the eye or retina. In some certain embodiments, a cell is an eye ganglion cell, bipolar cell, amacrine cell, horizontal cell, cone cell, rod cell or retinal pigment epithelial cell. In some embodiments, a tissue is selected from adipose, bladder, brain, breast, bone marrow, eye, heart, intestine, kidney, liver, lung, lymph node, muscle, pancreas, plasma, serum, skin, spleen, stomach, thymus, testis, ovum, and a combination thereof. In some certain embodiments, eye tissue is selected from the sclera, choroid or retina.

In some embodiments, an immortalized cell made, generated, produced or obtained from an isolated non-human cell or tissue as described herein is provided.

In some embodiments, a non-human embryonic stem cell is provided, whose genome comprises (i) a deletion, in whole or in part, of the coding sequence in an endogenous Rs1 gene at an Rs1 locus, or (ii) an engineered Rs1 gene comprising one or more point mutations in an exon and encodes an RS1 polypeptide having one or more amino acid substitutions wherein the engineered Rs1 gene is in some embodiments at an endogenous Rs1 locus. In some embodiments, a non-human embryonic stem cell is a rodent embryonic stem cell. In some certain embodiments, a rodent embryonic stem cell is a mouse embryonic stem cell and is from a 129 strain, C57BL strain, or a mixture thereof. In some certain embodiments, a rodent embryonic stem cell is a mouse embryonic stem cell and is a mixture of 129 and C57BL strains. In some certain embodiments, a rodent embryonic stem cell is a mouse embryonic stem cell and is from a C57BL strain whose genome lacks a Crb1^(rd8) mutation (i.e., whose genome comprises a wild-type Crbs1 gene). In some embodiments, a non-human ES cell as described herein comprises any one of SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:26 and SEQ ID NO:28. In some embodiments, a non-human ES cell as described herein comprises any one of SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:34, SEQ ID NO:36, SEQ ID NO:37, SEQ ID NO:39 and SEQ ID NO:40.

In some embodiments, use of a non-human embryonic stem cell as described herein to make a non-human animal is provided. In some certain embodiments, a non-human ES cell is a mouse ES cell and is used to make a mouse comprising (i) a deletion, in whole or in part, of the coding sequence in an endogenous Rs1 gene at an Rs1 locus, or (ii) an engineered Rs1 gene comprising one or more point mutations in an exon and encodes an RS1 polypeptide having one or more amino acid substitutions as described herein wherein the engineered Rs1 gene is in some embodiments at an endogenous Rs1 locus. In some certain embodiments, a non-human ES cell is a rat ES cell and is used to make a rat comprising (i) a deletion, in whole or in part, of the coding sequence in an endogenous Rs1 gene at an Rs1 locus, or (ii) an engineered Rs1 gene comprising one or more point mutations in an exon and encodes an RS1 polypeptide having one or more amino acid substitutions as described herein wherein the engineered Rs1 gene is in some embodiments at an endogenous Rs1 locus.

In some embodiments, a non-human embryo made, produced, generated, or obtained from a non-human ES cell as described herein is provided. In some certain embodiments, a non-human embryo is a rodent embryo; in some embodiments, a mouse embryo; in some embodiments, a rat embryo. In some certain embodiments, a provided non-human embryo comprises SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:27 or SEQ ID NO:29. In some certain embodiments, a provided non-human embryo comprises SEQ ID NO:35, SEQ ID NO:38 or SEQ ID NO:41.

In some embodiments, use of a non-human embryo described herein to make a non-human animal is provided. In some certain embodiments, a non-human embryo is a mouse embryo and is used to make a mouse comprising (i) a deletion, in whole or in part, of the coding sequence in an endogenous Rs1 gene at an Rs1 locus, or (ii) an engineered Rs1 gene comprising one or more point mutations in an exon and encodes an RS1 polypeptide having one or more amino acid substitutions as described herein wherein the engineered Rs1 gene is in some embodiments at an endogenous Rs1 locus. In some certain embodiments, a non-human embryo is a rat embryo and is used to make a rat comprising (i) a deletion, in whole or in part, of the coding sequence in an endogenous Rs1 gene at an Rs1 locus, or (ii) an engineered Rs1 gene comprising one or more point mutations in an exon and encodes an RS1 polypeptide having one or more amino acid substitutions as described herein wherein the engineered Rs1 gene is in some embodiments at an endogenous Rs1 locus.

In some embodiments, a kit comprising a non-human animal, an isolated non-human cell or tissue, an immortalized cell, a non-human ES cell, or a non-human embryo as described herein is provided. In some embodiments, a kit as described herein for use in the manufacture and/or development of a drug (e.g., an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof) for therapy or diagnosis is provided. In some embodiments, a kit as described herein for use in the manufacture and/or development of a drug (e.g., an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof) for the treatment, prevention or amelioration of a disease, disorder or condition is provided.

In some embodiments, a nucleic acid construct or targeting vector as described herein is provided. In some certain embodiments, a provided nucleic acid construct or targeting vector comprises an Rs1 gene (or locus), in whole or in part, as described herein. In some certain embodiments, a provided nucleic acid construct or targeting vector comprises a DNA fragment that includes an Rs1 gene (or locus), in whole or in part, as described herein. In some embodiments, a nucleic acid construct is provided that comprises a nucleic acid sequence to be integrated into a rodent Rs1 gene at a rodent Rs1 locus, flanked by a 5′ nucleotide sequence and a 3′ nucleotide sequence that are homologous to nucleotide sequences at the rodent Rs1 locus, wherein integration of the nucleic acid sequence into the rodent Rs1 gene results in (i) a deletion, in whole or in part, of the coding sequence of the rodent Rs1 gene, or (ii) an engineered Rs1 gene that encodes an RS1 polypeptide having an amino acid substitution. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid sequence to be integrated comprises a reporter gene and the integration of the nucleic acid sequence results in a deletion of a portion of exon 1 and exons 2-3. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid sequence to be integrated comprises a mutant Rs1 exon such that integration of the nucleic acid sequence into a rodent Rs1 gene results in an engineered Rs1 gene that encodes an RS1 polypeptide having an amino acid substitution. In some certain embodiments, a provided nucleic acid construct or targeting vector comprises any one of SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:26 and SEQ ID NO:28. In some certain embodiments, a provided nucleic acid construct or targeting vector comprises SEQ ID NO:33 and SEQ ID NO:35, SEQ ID NO:36 and SEQ ID NO:37, or SEQ ID NO:39 and SEQ ID NO:40. In some certain embodiments, a provided nucleic acid construct or targeting vector comprises one or more selection markers. In some certain embodiments, a provided nucleic acid construct or targeting vector comprises one or more site-specific recombination sites (e.g., loxP, Frt, or combinations thereof). In some certain embodiments, a provided nucleic acid construct or targeting vector is depicted in the Drawings.

In some embodiments, use of a nucleic acid construct or targeting vector as described herein to make a non-human ES cell, non-human cell, non-human embryo and/or non-human animal is provided.

In some embodiments, a method of making a non-human animal is provided, the method comprising (a) introducing a nucleic acid sequence into the genome of a non-human embryonic stem cell so that (i) the coding sequence of an endogenous Rs1 gene at an Rs1 locus is deleted, in whole or in part, or (ii) an exon of an endogenous Rs1 gene at an Rs1 locus is mutated to encode an RS1 polypeptide that includes an amino acid substitution; which nucleic acid sequence comprises a polynucleotide that is homologous to a sequence at the Rs1 locus; (b) obtaining a genetically modified non-human embryonic stem cell from (a); and (c) creating a non-human animal using the genetically modified non-human embryonic stem cell of (b).

In some embodiments of a method of making a non-human animal, an exon three of an Rs1 gene is mutated to encode an RS1 polypeptide that includes a C59S substitution. In some certain embodiments of a method of making a non-human animal, an exon three of an Rs1 gene is mutated to encode an RS1 polypeptide that includes a C59S substitution, a 25 bp deletion is made in intron two of an Rs1 gene and a 28 bp deletion is made in intron three of an Rs1 gene. In some embodiments of a method of making a non-human animal, an exon five of an Rs1 gene is mutated to encode an RS1 polypeptide that includes an R141C substitution. In some embodiments of a method of making a non-human animal, an exon five of an Rs1 gene is mutated to encode an RS1 polypeptide that includes an R141C substitution, a 10 bp deletion is made in intron four of an Rs1 gene and a 29 bp deletion is made in intron five of an Rs1 gene. In some embodiments of a method of making a non-human animal, a portion of exon 1 and exons 2-3 of the coding sequence in an Rs1 locus are deleted. In some certain embodiments of a method of making a non-human animal, 13,716 bp of an Rs1 gene at an Rs1 locus are deleted.

In some embodiments of a method of making a non-human animal, a nucleic acid sequence further comprises one or more selection markers. In some embodiments of a method of making a non-human animal, a nucleic acid sequence further comprises one or more site-specific recombinase recognition sites. In some embodiments of a method of making a non-human animal, a nucleic acid sequence further comprises a recombinase gene and a selection marker flanked by the one or more site-specific recombinase recognition sites, which site-specific recombinase recognition sites are oriented to direct an excision. In some embodiments of a method of making a non-human animal, a nucleic acid sequence further comprises a reporter gene that is downstream of the selection marker.

In some embodiments of a method of making a non-human animal, a recombinase gene is operably linked to a promoter that drives expression of the recombinase gene in differentiated cells and does not drive expression of the recombinase gene in undifferentiated cells. In some embodiments of a method of making a non-human animal, a recombinase gene is operably linked to a promoter that is transcriptionally competent and developmentally regulated.

In some embodiments of a method of making a non-human animal, the method further comprises a step of breeding the non-human animal generated in (c) so that a non-human animal homozygous for the deletion, or homozygous for the or mutant (or engineered) Rs1 gene, is created.

In some embodiments, a method of making a non-human animal is provided, the method comprising modifying a non-human animal genome so that the modified genome comprises (i) a deletion, in whole or in part, of the coding sequence of an endogenous Rs1 gene at an endogenous Rs1 locus, or (ii) an engineered Rs1 gene that encodes an RS1 polypeptide having an amino acid substitution wherein the engineered Rs1 gene is in some embodiments at an endogenous Rs1 locus; and making a non-human animal comprising the modified genome. In some embodiments, a non-human animal genome is modified by utilizing embryonic stem (ES) cells; i.e., the genome of an ES cell is modified, and the ES cell with a modified genome is used to make a non-human animal comprising the modified genome. In some embodiments of a method of making a non-human animal, the genome is modified so that it comprises an engineered Rs1 gene that encodes an RS1 polypeptide having a C59S or R141C substitution. In some embodiments of a method of making a non-human animal, the genome is modified so that it comprises a deletion of at least a portion of exon 1 and exons 2-3 of the coding sequence in the Rs1 locus; in some certain embodiments, so that it comprises a deletion of 13,716 bp in the Rs1 gene at an Rs1 locus.

In some embodiments, a non-human animal made, generated, produced, obtained or obtainable from a method as described herein is provided.

In some embodiments, a method of identifying a therapeutic agent for the treatment of Retinoschisis (or a disease, disorder or condition associated with the eye) in non-human animal, the method comprising (a) administering one or more agents to a non-human animal whose genome comprises (i) a deletion, in whole or in part, of the coding sequence of an endogenous Rs1 gene at an Rs1 locus, or (ii) an engineered Rs1 gene that encodes an RS1 polypeptide having an amino acid substitution wherein the engineered Rs1 gene is in some embodiments at an endogenous Rs1 locus; (b) performing one or more assays to determine if the one or more agents has an effect on one or more signs, symptoms and/or conditions associated with Retinoschisis (or a disease, disorder or condition associated with the eye); and (c) identifying the one or more agents that has an effect on the one or more signs, symptoms and/or conditions associated with Retinoschisis (or a disease, disorder or condition associated with the eye) as the therapeutic agent.

In some embodiments, a non-human animal is provided whose genome comprises a reporter gene operably linked to the start (ATG) codon of an Rs1 gene, wherein the reporter gene is located in the place of a portion of exon 1 and exons 2-3 of the Rs1 gene resulting in the deletion of 13,716 bp of the Rs1 gene sequence.

In some embodiments, a non-human animal is provided whose genome comprises an engineered Rs1 gene characterized by the presence of a point mutation in exon three of TGT to AGT, a 25 bp deletion in intron two, and a 28 bp deletion in intron three, which engineered Rs1 gene encodes an RS1 polypeptide having a C59S substitution.

In some embodiments, a non-human animal is provided whose genome comprises an engineered Rs1 gene characterized by the presence of a point mutation in exon five of CGC to TGC, a 10 bp deletion in intron four, and a 29 bp deletion in intron five, which engineered Rs1 gene encodes an RS1 polypeptide having a R141C substitution.

In some embodiments, a non-human animal model of Retinoschisis is provided, which non-human animal expresses or produces an RS1 polypeptide having an amino acid substitution as described herein.

In some embodiments, a non-human animal model of Retinoschisis is provided, which non-human animal has a genome comprising an engineered Rs1 gene as described herein.

In some embodiments, a non-human animal model of Retinoschisis is provided, which non-human animal has a genome comprising a deletion, in whole or in part, of the coding sequence in an Rs1 gene (or locus) as described herein.

In some embodiments, a non-human animal model of Retinoschisis is provided, obtained by providing a non-human animal, which non-human animal (i) has a genome comprising an engineered Rs1 gene as described herein, (ii) has a genome comprising a deletion, in whole or in part, of the coding sequence in an Rs1 gene (or locus) as described herein, or (iii) expresses an RS1 polypeptide having an amino acid substitution as described herein; thereby providing said non-human animal model of Retinoschisis.

In some embodiments, a non-human animal or cell as described herein is provided for use in the manufacture and/or development of a drug for therapy or diagnosis.

In some embodiments, a non-human animal or cell as described herein is provided for use in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment, prevention or amelioration of a disease, disorder or condition.

In some embodiments, use of a non-human animal or cell as described herein in the manufacture and/or development of a drug or vaccine for use in medicine, such as use as a medicament, is provided.

In some embodiments, use of a non-human animal or cell as described herein in the manufacture and/or development of gene therapy drug for Retinoschisis is provided.

In some embodiments, a disease, disorder or condition is Retinoschisis. In some embodiments, a disease, disorder or condition is an eye-related disease, disorder or condition or results from deletion of Rs1 function and/or activity.

In various embodiments, one or more phenotypes as described herein is or are as compared to a reference or control. In some embodiments, a reference or control includes a non-human animal having a modification as described herein, a modification that is different than a modification as described herein, or no modification (e.g., a wild type non-human animal).

In various embodiments, a non-human animal as described herein is a rodent; in some embodiments, a mouse; in some embodiments, a rat. In some embodiments, a mouse as described herein is selected from the group consisting of a 129 strain, a BALB/C strain, a C57BL/6 strain, and a mixed 129xC57BL/6 strain; in some certain embodiments, a C57BL/6 strain.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent application publication with color drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee.

The Drawing included herein, which is composed of the following Figures, is for illustration purposes only and not for limitation.

FIG. 1 shows a diagram, not to scale, of the organization of a non-human (e.g., mouse) retinoschisin-1 (Rs1) gene (top) and gene product (bottom). Top: exons are numbered below each exon, untranslated regions (open boxes) and coding sequences (vertical slashes) are also indicated. Bottom: leader sequence (LS), Rs1 domain (Rs1), discoidin domain (DD) and C-terminal region (CT) are indicated along with the location of selected cysteine and disease-linked mis sense mutations (adapted from FIG. 1 of Wu, W. W. H. et al., 2003, J. Biol. Chem. 278(30):28139-146).

FIG. 2 shows a diagram, not to scale, of a targeting vector for creating a deletion in a Rs1 gene in a rodent as described in Example 1. A lacZ reporter gene is inserted in operable linkage to a mouse Rs1 start (ATG) codon in exon one and deletes the remaining portion of exon 1 to the last 6 nucleotides of exon 3 of the mouse Rs1 locus (13,716 bp deletion). The Rs1-lacZ-SDC targeting vector contains a self-deleting drug selection cassette (e.g., a neomycin resistance gene flanked by loxP sequences; see U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,697,851, 8,518,392 and 8,354,389, all of which are incorporated herein by reference). Upon homologous recombination, the sequence contained in the targeting vector is inserted in the place of exons 1-3 of an endogenous murine Rs1 locus as shown. The drug selection cassette is removed in a development-dependent manner, i.e., progeny derived from mice whose germ line cells containing a disruption in an Rs1 locus as described above will shed the selectable marker from differentiated cells during development. Consecutive exons (vertical slashes) are indicated by number above each exon, and untranslated regions (open box) and coding sequence (closed slashes) are also indicated. lacZ: β-galactosidase gene; Cre: Cre recombinase gene; Neo: neomycin resistance gene.

FIG. 3 shows a diagram, not to scale, of the genomic organization of a murine Rs1 gene illustrating an exemplary disruption (e.g., a 13,716 bp deletion of exons 1-3) as described in Example 1. Exons (closed slashes) are numbered above each exon, and untranslated regions (open boxes) are also indicated. Approximate locations of probes (i.e., Rs1KOmTU, Rs1KOmTD) employed in a screening assay described in Example 1 are indicated by thick vertical slashes.

FIG. 4 shows a diagram, not to scale, of an exemplary disrupted murine Rs1 gene as described in Example 1. A deletion of exons 1-3 (13,716 bp deletion) of a mouse Rs1 locus is shown resulting from the insertion of a lacZ reporter gene operably linked to a mouse Rs1 start (ATG) codon. Exons (vertical slashes) are numbered above each exon, and untranslated regions (open box) and remaining coding sequence (striped rectangle) are also indicated. Locations of selected nucleotide junctions are marked with a line below each junction and indicated by SEQ ID NO.

FIG. 5 shows a diagram, not to scale, of a targeting vector for creating a mutant Rs1 gene in a rodent (e.g., mouse) as described in Example 1. Consecutive exons (vertical slashes) are indicated by number above or below each exon. An exemplary point mutation in exon three (C59S; TGT to AGT) is indicated above exon three by insertion of a synthetic DNA fragment and cassette elements by homologous recombination. The Rs1C59S-SDC targeting vector contains a self-deleting drug selection cassette (e.g., a hygromycin resistance gene flanked by loxP sequences; see U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,697,851, 8,518,392 and 8,354,389, all of which are incorporated herein by reference). Upon homologous recombination, the synthetic DNA fragment contained in the targeting vector is inserted in the place of exon three of an endogenous murine Rs1 locus as shown. The drug selection cassette is removed in a development-dependent manner, i.e., progeny derived from mice whose germ line cells containing a disruption in an Rs1 locus as described above will shed the selectable marker from differentiated cells during development. Locations of selected nucleotide junctions are marked with a line below each junction and indicated by SEQ ID NO.

FIG. 6 shows a diagram, not to scale, of a close-up view of exon three of a mouse Rs1 gene and the design of the mutant Rs1 gene illustrated in FIG. 5 (see also Example 1). Exon three (black rectangle) with the targeted point mutation (C59S) and surrounding introns are shown along with two small deletions designed to fall over TAQMAN® assays. Integration of the targeting vector by homologous recombination results in an exon three that encodes a portion of an RS1 polypeptide having a C59S substitution and two small deletions (25 bp and 28 bp) in the surrounding introns in the mutant Rs1 gene. Approximate location of probes (i.e., Rs1-C59SmTU and Rs1-C59SmTD) employed in a screening assay described in Example 1 are indicated by thick vertical slashes.

FIG. 7 shows a diagram, not to scale, of a close-up view of a mutant Rs1 gene in a rodent (e.g., mouse) created after recombinase-mediated excision of the cassette contained within the targeting vector described in Example 1. Exon three with the point mutation resulting in a C59S substitution in the Rs1 gene product is shown with a remaining loxP site. Location of the nucleotide junction that remained after recombinase-mediated excision of the cassette is marked with a line below the junction and indicated by SEQ ID NO.

FIG. 8 shows a diagram, not to scale, of a targeting vector for creating a mutant Rs1 gene in a rodent (e.g., mouse) as described in Example 1. Consecutive exons (vertical slashes) are indicated by number above or below each exon. An exemplary point mutation in exon five (R141C; CGC to TGC) is indicated above exon five by insertion of a synthetic DNA fragment and cassette elements by homologous recombination. The Rs1R141C-SDC targeting vector contains a self-deleting drug selection cassette (e.g., a hygromycin resistance gene flanked by loxP sequences; see U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,697,851, 8,518,392 and 8,354,389, all of which are incorporated herein by reference). Upon homologous recombination, the synthetic DNA fragment contained in the targeting vector is inserted in the place of exon five of an endogenous murine Rs1 locus as shown. The drug selection cassette is removed in a development-dependent manner, i.e., progeny derived from mice whose germ line cells containing a disruption in an Rs1 locus as described above will shed the selectable marker from differentiated cells during development. Locations of selected nucleotide junctions are marked with a line below each junction and indicated by SEQ ID NO.

FIG. 9 shows a diagram, not to scale, of a close-up view of exon five of a mouse Rs1 gene and the design of the mutant Rs1 gene illustrated in FIG. 8 (see also Example 1). Exon five (black rectangle) with the targeted point mutation (R141C) and surrounding introns are shown along with two small deletions designed to fall over TAQMAN® assays. Integration of the targeting vector by homologous recombination results in an exon five that encodes a portion of an RS1 polypeptide having a R141C substitution and two small deletions (10 bp and 29 bp) in the surrounding introns in the mutant Rs1 gene. Approximate location of probes (i.e., Rs1-R141CmTU and Rs1-R141CmTD) employed in a screening assay described in Example 1 are indicated by thick vertical slashes.

FIG. 10 shows a diagram, not to scale, of a close-up view of a mutant Rs1 gene in a rodent (e.g., mouse) created after recombinase-mediated excision of the cassette contained within the targeting vector described in Example 1. Exon five with the point mutation resulting in a R141C substitution in the Rs1 gene product is shown with a remaining loxP site. Location of the nucleotide junction that remained after recombinase-mediated excision of the cassette is marked with a line below the junction and indicated by SEQ ID NO.

FIGS. 11A-11C show distribution of Rs1 mRNA and protein expression in retinas of Rs1 null (Rs1^(KO)) and Rs 1 mutant (Rs1^(C59S), Rs1^(R141C)) animals by lacZ expression, RNASCOPE® and Immunohistochemistry (IHC). A, lacZ staining demonstrating positive X-gal signals in ONL and photoreceptor IS of Rs1^(KO) animals. B, Rs1 mRNA expression via RNASCOPE® demonstrating endogenous Rs1 mRNA expression in wild-type (WT) animals. No Rs1 mRNA was detected in retinas from Rs1^(KO) animals. C, IHC showing RS1 protein distribution in all retinal layers of WT animals. No RS1 protein expression was detected in Rs1^(KO) animals and confined to ONL and IS of Rs1^(C59S) and Rs1^(R141C) animals (GCL: ganglion cell layer; IPL: inner plexiform layer; INL: inner nuclear layer; OPL: outer plexiform layer; ONL: outer nuclear layer; IS: inner segments; RPE: retinal pigment epithelium). Rs1: red; DAPI: blue.

FIGS. 12A-12E show RS1 protein expression in retinas of Rs1 null (Rs1^(KO)) and Rs1 mutant (Rs1^(C59S), Rs1^(R141C)) animals by Western blot and ELISA assays. A, Western blot of SDS-PAGE gel under reducing condition showing RS1 expression in Rs1^(KO) and C57BL/6-derived male strains. B, Western blot of SDS-PAGE gel under reducing condition showing RS1 expression in wild-type (WT) and Rs1^(C59S) male animals. C, Western blot of SDS-PAGE gel under reducing condition showing RS1 expression in wild-type (WT) and Rs1^(R141C) male animals. D, ELISA assay showing the level of RS1 protein in wild-type (WT), Rs1^(KO), Rs1^(C59S) and Rs1^(R141C) male animals. Percent of RS1 protein expressed in Rs1 mutant animals as compared to wild-type littermates is indicated above each bar. E, RS1 protein expression in retinas of Rs1 knock-out female animals in Western blot and ELISA assay. KO: homozygous Rs1 knock-out (Rs1^(−/−)); HET: heterozygous Rs1 knock-out (Rs1^(−/+)). RS1 HET female animals had similar amount of RS1 protein as wild type (“WT”) male and female animals.

FIGS. 13A-13D show the pathological changes in retinas of Rs1 null)(Rs1^(KO)) and Rs1 mutant (Rs1^(C59S), Rs1^(R141C)) animals by histological, IHC and optical coherence tomography (OCT) analysis. A, histological examination of showed cavities and splitting in the INL (red triangles) and overall disorganization of the INL and OPL, degeneration of photoreceptors with thinning of the ONL (vertical red double headed arrow) and inner/outer segments (vertical red line) in Rs1^(KO), Rs1^(C59S) and Rs1^(R141C) male animals. B, IHC with retina-specific cell markers (GFAP-glial fibrillary acidic protein and vimentin) revealed gliosis of the INL (* indicated activated Müller cells) in Rs1^(KO) male animals. C, Retinoschisis and photoreceptor degeneration were observed in Rs1^(KO), Rs1^(C59S) and Rs1^(R141C) male animals by in vivo imaging using Spectralis Heidelberg Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). D, Schisis was not observed in heterozygous RS1 knock-out female (Rs1^(−/+)) (“Het”), while homozygous RS1 knock-out female (Rs1^(−/−)) (“KO”) had a phenotype that matched hemi KO male.

FIGS. 14A-D show the analysis of outer retinal function by dark-adapted (DA-) and light-adapted (LA-) full-field electroretinograms (ERGs) in 20-week old animals. A, representative ERGs obtained under dark-adapted conditions from a wild-type (WT), Rs1 KO (KO), Rs1^(C59S) (C59S) and Rs1^(R141C) (R141C) male animals. B, representative ERGs obtained under light-adapted conditions from a wild-type (WT), Rs1^(KO) (KO), Rs1^(C59S) (C59S) and Rs1^(R141C) (R141C) male animals. C, representative amplitude of the major components of the dark- and light-adapted ERG plotted as a function of stimulus luminance. Data points indicate average (±SD) for six male animals. In comparison to wild-type, both the a- and b-waves of Rs1^(KO), Rs1^(C59S) and Rs1^(R141C) (R141C) male animals were reduced in amplitude. Stimulus luminance (A and B) are noted to the left of the left most waveform graph. D, representative ERGs obtained under dark-adapted and light-adapted conditions from a wild-type (Rs1^(+/+)), homozygous knock-out (Rs1^(−/−)) and heterozygous knock-out (Rs1^(−/+)) female animals. ERGs of carrier (heterozygous) females matched those of WT controls under all conditions. In comparison, the ERG phenotype of homozygous knock-out females was comparable to that of hemizygous knock-out males, with a negative waveform and a reduced amplitude a-wave.

FIG. 15 shows the experimental design for a study described in Example 4 to investigate early onset phenotype of the retina in Rs1 KO mice. ♂Rs1 (−/Y) or Rs1 (+/Y) and ♀Rs1 (+/−) mice were bred to obtain Rs1 KO mice: Rs1 (−/Y) or Rs1 (−/−), and Rs1 WT mice: Rs1 (+/Y) or Rs1 (+/+). ERG was conducted at P15, 18, 21 and 24, and each mouse underwent twice or less ERG or OCT at an interval of 6 days.

FIGS. 16A-16F illustrate early-onset phenotypes of Rs1 KO mice in ERG and OCT analysis. Outer retinal function was evaluated by dark-adapted (DA-)(A and D) and light-adapted (LA-) (B and E) full-field ERGs, which show reduced b-wave relative to a-wave, resulting in negative ERG (quantification data not shown) in all time points. Retinoschisis phenotype was present throughout the observation time course (P15-P24) (C and F, indicated by yellow triangles).

FIGS. 17A-17B show changes in ERG parameters over time of Rs1 KO mice and wild type (WT) mice (Naka-Rushton analysis). In comparison to WT control, the Rmax values of both a-wave and b-wave at P15 were lower in Rs1 KO mice; both the Rmax and Sensitivity values of the DA-ERG and LA-ERG b-waves were greatly reduced in Rs1 KO mice at P15. At the older ages, the reduced Rmax values persisted, but Sensitivity values were comparable in Rs1 KO and WT mice.

FIG. 18 shows changes in OCT images over time. Prominent schisis in INL and OPL (asterisk) and no evidence of ELM was observed at P15, which tended to moderate at later time points. The ellipsoid zone (EZ) in Rs1 KO retina was broader than WT throughout the period.

FIGS. 19A-19C show the results from a quantitative OCT analysis. Retina (including outer retina) in WT mice was slightly thinned during the developmental period (C). The retina (A and B) in Rs1 KO mice became thinner, mainly related to moderated schisis, and outer retina in Rs1 KO retina was thinner than WT during the period (C).

FIG. 20 show the alignment of mouse, rat and human RS1 polypeptides (SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, and SEQ ID NO: 8, respectively). The signal sequence is underlined. The positions where the sequences differ are identified by “*”.

DEFINITIONS

Disruption: In some embodiments, a disruption may achieve or represent an insertion, deletion, substitution, replacement, missense mutation, or a frame-shift of a DNA sequence(s), or any combination thereof. Insertions may include the insertion of entire genes or fragments of genes, e.g., exons, which may be of an origin other than the endogenous sequence (e.g., a heterologous sequence). In some embodiments, a disruption may increase expression and/or activity of a gene or gene product (e.g., of a protein encoded by a gene). In some embodiments, a disruption may decrease expression and/or activity of a gene or gene product. In some embodiments, a disruption may alter sequence of a gene or an encoded gene product (e.g., an encoded polypeptide). In some embodiments, a disruption may truncate or fragment a gene or an encoded gene product (e.g., an encoded protein). In some embodiments, a disruption may extend a gene or an encoded gene product. In some such embodiments, a disruption may achieve assembly of a fusion polypeptide. In some embodiments, a disruption may affect level, but not activity, of a gene or gene product. In some embodiments, a disruption may affect activity, but not level, of a gene or gene product. In some embodiments, a disruption may have no significant effect on level of a gene or gene product. In some embodiments, a disruption may have no significant effect on activity of a gene or gene product. In some embodiments, a disruption may have no significant effect on either level or activity of a gene or gene product.

Non-human animal: as used herein, refers to any vertebrate organism that is not a human. In some embodiments, a non-human animal is a cyclostome, a bony fish, a cartilaginous fish (e.g., a shark or a ray), an amphibian, a reptile, a mammal, and a bird. In some embodiments, a non-human animal is a mammal. In some embodiments, a non-human mammal is a primate, a goat, a sheep, a pig, a dog, a cow, or a rodent. In some embodiments, a non-human animal is a rodent such as a rat or a mouse.

Substantial homology: as used herein, refers to a comparison between amino acid or nucleic acid sequences. As will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, two sequences are generally considered to be “substantially homologous” if they contain homologous residues in corresponding positions. Homologous residues may be identical residues. Alternatively, homologous residues may be non-identical residues with appropriately similar structural and/or functional characteristics. For example, as is well known by those of ordinary skill in the art, certain amino acids are typically classified as “hydrophobic” or “hydrophilic” amino acids, and/or as having “polar” or “non-polar” side chains. Substitution of one amino acid for another of the same type may often be considered a “homologous” substitution. Typical amino acid categorizations are summarized below.

Alanine Ala A Nonpolar Neutral 1.8 Arginine Arg R Polar Positive −4.5 Asparagine Asn N Polar Neutral −3.5 Aspartic acid Asp D Polar Negative −3.5 Cysteine Cys C Nonpolar Neutral 2.5 Glutamic acid Glu E Polar Negative −3.5 Glutamine Gln Q Polar Neutral −3.5 Glycine Gly G Nonpolar Neutral −0.4 Histidine His H Polar Positive −3.2 Isoleucine Ile I Nonpolar Neutral 4.5 Leucine Leu L Nonpolar Neutral 3.8 Lysine Lys K Polar Positive −3.9 Methionine Met M Nonpolar Neutral 1.9 Phenylalanine Phe F Nonpolar Neutral 2.8 Proline Pro P Nonpolar Neutral −1.6 Serine Ser S Polar Neutral −0.8 Threonine Thr T Polar Neutral −0.7 Tryptophan Trp W Nonpolar Neutral −0.9 Tyrosine Tyr Y Polar Neutral −1.3 Valine Val V Nonpolar Neutral 4.2 Ambiguous Amino Acids 3-Letter 1-Letter Asparagine or aspartic acid Asx B Glutamine or glutamic acid Glx Z Leucine or Isoleucine Xle J Unspecified or unknown amino acid Xaa X

As is well known in this art, amino acid or nucleic acid sequences may be compared using any of a variety of algorithms, including those available in commercial computer programs such as BLASTN for nucleotide sequences and BLASTP, gapped BLAST, and PSI-BLAST for amino acid sequences. Exemplary such programs are described in Altschul, S. F. et al., 1990, J. Mol. Biol., 215(3): 403-410; Altschul, S. F. et al., 1997, Methods in Enzymology; Altschul, S. F. et al., 1997, Nucleic Acids Res., 25:3389-3402; Baxevanis, A. D., and B. F. F. Ouellette (eds.) Bioinformatics: A Practical Guide to the Analysis of Genes and Proteins, Wiley, 1998; and Misener et al. (eds.) Bioinformatics Methods and Protocols (Methods in Molecular Biology, Vol. 132), Humana Press, 1998. In addition to identifying homologous sequences, the programs mentioned above typically provide an indication of the degree of homology. In some embodiments, two sequences are considered to be substantially homologous if at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or more of their corresponding residues are homologous over a relevant stretch of residues. In some embodiments, the relevant stretch is a complete sequence. In some embodiments, the relevant stretch is at least 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 or more residues. In some embodiments, the relevant stretch includes contiguous residues along a complete sequence. In some embodiments, the relevant stretch includes discontinuous residues along a complete sequence, for example, noncontiguous residues brought together by the folded conformation of a polypeptide or a portion thereof. In some embodiments, the relevant stretch is at least 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, or more residues.

Substantial identity: as used herein, refers to a comparison between amino acid or nucleic acid sequences. As will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, two sequences are generally considered to be “substantially identical” if they contain identical residues in corresponding positions. As is well known in this art, amino acid or nucleic acid sequences may be compared using any of a variety of algorithms, including those available in commercial computer programs such as BLASTN for nucleotide sequences and BLASTP, gapped BLAST, and PSI-BLAST for amino acid sequences. Exemplary such programs are described in Altschul, S. F. et al., 1990, J. Mol. Biol., 215(3): 403-10; Altschul, S. F. et al., 1996, Meth. Enzymol. 266:460-80; Altschul, S. F. et al., 1997, Nucleic Acids Res., 25:3389-402; Baxevanis, A. D. and B. F. F. Ouellette (eds.) Bioinformatics: A Practical Guide to the Analysis of Genes and Proteins, Wiley, 1998; and Misener et al. (eds.) Bioinformatics Methods and Protocols, Methods in Molecular Biology, Vol. 132, Humana Press, 1998. In addition to identifying identical sequences, the programs mentioned above typically provide an indication of the degree of identity. In some embodiments, two sequences are considered to be substantially identical if at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or more of their corresponding residues are identical over a relevant stretch of residues. In some embodiments, the relevant stretch is a complete sequence. In some embodiments, the relevant stretch is at least 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, or more residues.

Targeting vector or targeting construct: as used herein, refers to a polynucleotide molecule that comprises a targeting region. A targeting region comprises a sequence that is identical or substantially identical to a sequence in a target cell, tissue or animal and provides for integration of the targeting construct (and/or a sequence contained therein) into a position within the genome of the cell, tissue or animal via homologous recombination. Targeting regions that target into a position of the cell, tissue or animal via recombinase-mediated cassette exchange using site-specific recombinase recognition sites (e.g., loxP or Frt sites) are also included. In some embodiments, a targeting construct as described herein further comprises a nucleic acid sequence or gene (e.g., a reporter gene, homologous gene, heterologous gene, or mutant gene) of particular interest, a selectable marker, control and/or regulatory sequences, and other nucleic acid sequences that encode a recombinase or recombinogenic polypeptide. In some embodiments, a targeting construct may comprise a gene of interest in whole or in part, wherein the gene of interest encodes a polypeptide, in whole or in part, that has a similar function as a protein encoded by an endogenous sequence. In some embodiments, a targeting construct may comprise a mutant gene of interest, in whole or in part, wherein the mutant gene of interest encodes a variant polypeptide, in whole or in part, that has a similar function as a polypeptide encoded by an endogenous sequence. In some embodiments, a targeting construct may comprise a reporter gene, in whole or in part, wherein the reporter gene encodes a polypeptide that is easily identified and/or measured using techniques known in the art.

Variant: as used herein, refers to an entity that shows significant structural identity with a reference entity, but differs structurally from the reference entity in the presence or level of one or more chemical moieties as compared with the reference entity. In some embodiments, a “variant” also differs functionally from its reference entity. For example, a “variant polypeptide” may differ from a reference polypeptide as a result of one or more differences in amino acid sequence and/or one or more differences in chemical moieties (e.g., carbohydrates, lipids, etc.) covalently attached to the polypeptide backbone. In some embodiments, a “variant polypeptide” shows an overall sequence identity with a reference polypeptide that is at least 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, or 99%. Alternatively, or additionally, in some embodiments, a “variant polypeptide” does not share at least one characteristic sequence element with a reference polypeptide. In some embodiments, the reference polypeptide has one or more biological activities. In some embodiments, a “variant polypeptide” shares one or more of the biological activities of the reference polypeptide. In some embodiments, a “variant polypeptide” lacks one or more of the biological activities of the reference polypeptide. In some embodiments, a “variant polypeptide” shows a reduced level of one or more biological activities as compared with the reference polypeptide. In some embodiments, a polypeptide of interest is considered to be a “variant” of a parent or reference polypeptide if the polypeptide of interest has an amino acid sequence that is identical to that of the parent but for a small number of sequence alterations at particular positions. Typically, fewer than 15%, 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, or 2% of the residues in the variant are substituted as compared with the parent. In some embodiments, a “variant” has 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1 substituted residue(s) as compared with a parent. Often, a “variant” has a very small number (e.g., fewer than 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1) number of substituted functional residues (i.e., residues that participate in a particular biological activity). Furthermore, a “variant” typically has not more than 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1 additions or deletions, and often has no additions or deletions, as compared with the parent. Moreover, any additions or deletions are typically fewer than about 10, about 9, about 8, about 7, about 6, and commonly are fewer than about 5, about 4, about 3, or about 2 residues. In some embodiments, a parent or reference polypeptide is one found in nature. As will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, a plurality of variants of a particular polypeptide of interest may commonly be found in nature, particularly when the polypeptide of interest is an infectious agent polypeptide.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

Non-human animals such as rodents (e.g., mice or rats) are provided having disruption or mutation(s) in the genetic material encoding a Retinoschisin-1 (RS1) polypeptide. In particular, non-human animals having a deletion, in whole or in part, of the coding sequence of an Rs1 gene that results in a mutant Rs1 gene that fails to produce an RS1 polypeptide in the non-human animal are provided. Also provided are non-human animals having one or more mutations in a coding sequence of an Rs1 gene that results in a mutant Rs1 gene encoding a variant or mutant RS1 polypeptide that includes one or more amino acid substitutions as compared to a wild type RS1 polypeptide (i.e., the RS1 polypeptide encoded by the Rs1 gene without the mutations). Such one or more amino acid substitutions, as described herein, result in elimination or significant reduction in functional RS1 polypeptide produced and the formation of pathological and functional features associated with Retinoschisis (e.g., X-linked Retinoschisis, XLRS) in the non-human animals. Therefore, the non-human animals disclosed herein are particularly useful for the development and identification of therapeutic candidates for the treatment and/or amelioration of Retinoschisis. Such non-human animals provide a source of cells for identifying and developing therapeutics (e.g., gene therapies) for the treatment and/or amelioration of Retinoschisis. Further, such non-human animals provide the capacity for a useful animal model system for the development of therapeutics for the treatment of eye-related diseases, disorders and conditions related thereto.

In some embodiments, non-human animals described herein are male animals. In some embodiments, non-human animals described herein are female animals. In some embodiments, non-human animals described herein are female animals heterozygous for a disruption or mutation(s) in an Rs1 gene as described herein. In some embodiments, non-human animals described herein are female animals homozygous for a disruption or mutation(s) in an Rs1 gene as described herein.

Various aspects of the present disclosure are described in detail in the following sections. The use of such sections is not intended to be limiting. Each section can apply to one or more embodiments described herein. In this application, use of “or” means “and/or” unless stated otherwise.

Retinoschisin-1 and Retinoschisis

Retinoschisin-1 is a small gene that is about 32.4 kb long containing six exons and five introns located on chromosome Xp22.2, and encodes a 3.1 kb mRNA that is translated into a 224-amino acid precursor polypeptide termed Retinoschisin. Retinoschisin is expressed as a monomer containing four different domains: N-terminal signal sequence (23 amino acids) directing protein translocation to the exterior of the cell; a unique Rs 1 domain (a long/highly conserved sequence motif 39 amino acids in length); a discoidin domain (157 amino acids), contributing to the adhesive function of RS1 to preserve the retinal cell architecture and to establish proper synaptic connectivity; and a C-terminal segment (5 amino acids).

Retinoschisin is assembled in the endoplasmic reticulum and secreted as functional disulfide-linked homo-octamer (eight subunits joined together by Cys59-Cys223 disulfide bonds. Subunits within the octamer are further organized into dimers mediated by Cys(40)-Cys(40) disulfide bonds. RS1 is bound by ionic forces to the outer leaflet of the photoreceptor inner segment plasma membrane, and function in cell-cell interactions and cell adhesion. RS1 is expressed in the retina, prominently by the rod and cone inner segments, and bipolar cells, and pineal gland. Immunostaining in the retina localizes Retinoschisin to the inner segments of photoreceptors, bipolar cells and the inner and outer plexiform layers. High sequence homology exists in human, mouse, rat and rabbit (96% identity and 97.8% similarity between mouse and human; see, also, FIG. 20).

Retinoschisis is a severe eye disease classified into degenerative, hereditary, tractional and exudative forms. In particular, X-linked juvenile Retinoschisis (XLRS), a hereditary form of Retinoschisis, is an early onset macular degeneration characterized by loss in visual acuity, abnormal splitting of the neurosensory layers of the retina and a reduction of the b-wave in an electroretinogram (ERG). XLRS is caused by mutations in the Retinoschisin-1 (RS1) gene and is transmitted in an X-linked recessive pattern that causes disease only in males. Mutations in the RS1 gene product result in the complete absence of an RS1 polypeptide, or the production of a defective RS1 polypeptide having reduced or no function. Almost 200 mutations of the RS1 gene have been reported to be associated with XLRS, and manifests in a phenotype that is highly variable across individuals (e.g., reviewed in Kim, D. Y. and S. Mukai, 2013, Sem. Ophthalmol. 28(5-6):392-6). Of the almost 200 mutations reported, about 40% of the disease-causing mutations are nonsense or frame shift mutations, which are predicted to result in the absence of a full-length polypeptide. About 50% (100/191) of disease causing mutations, however, are missense mutation, which allow for production of full-length mutant polypeptide (Molday, R. S. et al., 2012, Prog. Retin. Eye Res. 31:195-212). Most of these mutations (85/191) are found in the discoidin domain and result in a functionally incompetent misfolded polypeptide.

There is a spectrum of phenotypes for XLRS. Cyctic Macular Lesions involving the fovea are characteristic clinical features of XRLS. In particular, foveal schisis with “cartwheel” or “spoke-wheel” pattern is a characteristic finding on fundus exam, presenting in nearly 100% of cases, and schisis may occur peripherally in up to 50% of patients or retinal detachments. Peripheral schisis can lead to holes and tears of the inner leaf with potential for hemorrhage from unsupported crossing vessels. Additional peripheral changes include pigmentation resembling retinitis pigmentosa, retinal fibrosis and white flecks, and vitreo-retinal dystrophy. ERGs show marked b-wave reduction, and abnormal a-wave in some patients, but in many, a-wave remains normal.

The clinical presentation of XLRS and course of disease is variable presenting as early as at birth to later at school age with only mild visual symptoms. These variations and clinical severity do not appear to correlate with genotype, and female carriers are asymptomatic. Currently, spectral domain OCT (SD-OCT) is the major diagnostic technique for this disease, while existing management options are limited to low vision aids. Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAIs, topical and oral, approved for use in glaucoma) have shown improvement in visual acuity in about 50% of eyes treated in small studies reported.

Non-Human Animals Having a Mutant or Engineered Rs1 Gene

Although significant progress in the understanding of XLRS has been achieved, much of the precise mechanisms of XLRS remains unknown. The present disclosure is based on the creation of improved in vivo systems for generating and developing treatments for XLRS that rely on unique genetic structures not currently present in established systems. Thus, the present disclosure is based on the recognition that improved in vivo systems for generating and developing treatments for XLRS can be provided by generating genetic alterations in an endogenous Rs1 locus in a non-human animal such as a rodent (e.g., a mouse). As described herein, the present disclosure specifically demonstrates, among other things, exemplary strategies of creating Rs1-deficient and Rs1-engineered (e.g., mutant Rs1) non-human animals (e.g., rodent animals such as a mouse) that recapitulate a human XLRS disease phenotype. Without wishing to be bound by any particular theory, the strategies described herein can be employed to create other Rs1-deficient and/or Rs1-engineered non-human animals as desired. For example, Rs1-engineered non-human animals may be created to contain engineered Rs1 genes containing mutations, or combinations of mutations, other than those described in the Examples section below. Examples of mutations that can be engineered into an endogenous Rs1 gene can be found in the X-linked Retinoschisis sequence variation database (RETINOSCHISISDB©).

In some embodiments, the non-human animals disclosed herein have a deletion in the genome, in whole or in part, of the coding sequence of the Rs1 gene at an endogenous Rs1 locus that results in the lack of a functional RS1 polypeptide being produced in the non-human animals. In some embodiments, the deletion includes at least exons 2-3 of the Rs1 gene. Exon 2 encodes amino acids 18-26 of the RS1 polypeptide (with amino acids 18-23 being the last 5 amino acids of the signal sequence). Exon 3 encodes amino acids 27-61 of the RS1 polypeptide. In some embodiments, the deletion includes at least a portion of exon 1 and exons 2-3 of the Rs1 gene. For example, the portion of exon 1 that begins from immediately 3′ of the ATG start codon to the 3′ end of exon 1 and encodes amino acids 2-17 of the RS1 polypeptide can be included in the deletion. In specific embodiments, the deletion is of a contiguous genomic fragment beginning immediately after the ATG start codon in exon 1, through exon 2, to the 3′ end of exon 3 or to the six nucleotides at the 3′ end of exon 3 of the Rs1 gene.

In some of the embodiments where the Rs1 locus has a deletion, in whole or in part, of the coding sequence of the Rs1 gene, the Rs1 locus includes a reporter gene. In some embodiments, the reporter gene is operably linked to an Rs1 promoter, e.g., the endogenous Rs1 promoter at the Rs1 locus that has a deletion, in whole or in part, of the coding sequence of the Rs1 gene. In some embodiments, the Rs1 locus has a deletion of a contiguous genomic fragment beginning immediately after the ATG start codon in exon 1 to the 3′ end of exon 3 (or to the six nucleotides at the 3′ end of exon 3) of the Rs1 gene, and the coding sequence of the reporter gene is fused in frame to the ATG start codon of the Rs1 gene. As a result of an operable linkage to the endogenous Rs1 promoter at the Rs1 locus, the expression of the reporter gene resembles the expression pattern of the Rs1 gene. Reporter genes suitable for use herein include, for example, lacZ, and genes encoding a reporter protein such as luciferase, green fluorescent protein (GFP), enhanced GFP (eGFP), cyan fluorescent protein (CFP), yellow fluorescent protein (YFP), enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (eYFP), blue fluorescent protein (BFP), enhanced blue fluorescent protein (eBFP), DsRed, and MmGFP.

In other embodiments, the non-human animals disclosed herein have one or more point mutations in the coding sequence of an Rs1 gene (e.g., an endogenous Rs1 gene or a heterologous Rs1 gene) that results in a variant RS1 polypeptide that includes one or more amino acid substitutions relative to the wild type RS1 polypeptide (encoded by the Rs1 gene without the point mutations); for example, a variant rodent (e.g., mouse or rat) RS1 polypeptide that includes one or more amino acid substitutions relative to the wild type rodent RS1 polypeptide, or a variant human RS1 polypeptide includes one or more amino acid substitutions relative to the wild type human RS1 polypeptide.

The amino acid substitutions described herein result in elimination or significant reduction in the level of functional RS1 polypeptide produced from an Rs1 mutant allele (i.e., an Rs1 gene having a deletion or a point mutation). Amino acid substitutions can lead to elimination or significant reduction in the level of functional RS1 polypeptide produced as a result of, for example, misfolding of a polypeptide, defective subunit or oligomer assembly, and inability of a polypeptide to be inserted into the membrane of the ER as part of the protein secretion process.

In some embodiments, an amino acid substitution is in the signal sequence that results in an inability of a variant RS1 polypeptide having the amino acid substitution to be inserted into the membrane of the ER for secretion. For example, substitution of hydrophobic residues in the signal sequence with proline or with hydrophilic/charged residues may prevent the signal sequence from adopting an a-helix secondary structure required for insertion into the ER membrane. In specific embodiments, the amino acid substitution is a substitution of L13 (e.g., L13P).

In some embodiments, an amino acid substitution is in the regions flanking the discoidin domain, i.e., the Rs1 region composed of amino acids 24-62 and the C-terminal segment (composed of amino acids 220-224). In specific embodiments, the substitution is a substitution of cysteine at position 38, 40, 42, 59 or 223 with a non-cysteine residue, e.g., Ser, Arg, Trp, Tyr or Gly. C40 is responsible for forming C40-C40 disulfide-linked dimers, and C59 and C223 form intermolecular disulfide bonds to permit assembly of RS1 dimers into octamer. Thus, substitution of Cys at 40, 59 or 223 may have only a limited effect on protein folding and secretion, yet still result in inability of a mutant RS1 polypeptide comprising such substitution to function as a cell adhesion protein. In some embodiments, cysteine at position 40, 59 or 223 has been substituted with Ser, Arg, Trp, Tyr or Gly. Specific examples of substitution include C38S, C405, C42S, C59S, C223S, C223R and C223Y.

In other embodiments, an amino acid substitution is in the discoidin domain of the RS1 polypeptide, which is composed of amino acids 63-219.

In some embodiments, a substitution in the discoidin domain is a substitution of one of the five Cys residues in the discoidin domain: C63, C83, C110, C142, and C219. Cys63 and Cys219, and Cys110-Cys142, form two intramolecular disulfide bonds that are important for protein folding. In some embodiments, cysteine at one of positions 63, 83, 110, 142 or 219 has been substituted with a non-cysteine residue, e.g., Ser, Arg, Trp, Tyr or Gly. Specific examples of substitution include C63S, C83S, C110S, C110Y, C142S, C142R, C142W, C219S, C219R, C219W and C219G.

In some embodiments, a substitution in the discoidin domain is a substitution of an amino acid residue not directly involved in formation of disulfide bonds but important for protein folding, formation or stability of the discoidin domain, and/or intermolecular interactions among adjacent subunits. Examples of such residues include highly conserved, solvent inaccessible core residues such as E72, G109, E146, R182, and P203, as well as R141 and D143. In some specific embodiments, a substitution is one that replaces a non-cysteine residue with cysteine, which may affect thiol exchange; for example, W92C, W96C, R141C, R182C, R200C, P203C, and R209C. In some other specific embodiments, a substitution is one that affects protein charge by eliminating or reversing the charge of amino acid residues or by replacing a non-charged residue with a charged residue without affect thiol residues; for example, E72K, W96R, R102W, R102Q, G109E, G109R, R141H, D143V, N179D and R213W. In other embodiments, a substitution is one that may affect conformation stability by insertion or removal of Pro residues; for example, S73P, L127P, P192S, P192T, P193S and P203L. In still other embodiments, a substitution is one that may affect hydrophobic core by insertion or removal of polar residues (i.e., replacing a hydrophobic residue with a polar residue or replacing a polar residue with a hydrophobic residue); for example, I136T and N163Y.

In some embodiments, the non-human animals described herein comprise one or more point mutations in an Rs1 gene resulting in a substitution of cysteine [Cys, C] with serine [Ser, S], or substitution of arginine [Arg, R] with cysteine [Cys, C]) in the encoded RS1 polypeptide. In some certain embodiments, the substitution is a C59S substitution. In some certain embodiments, the substitution is a R141C substitution.

In some embodiments, non-human animals as described herein that comprise a disruption or mutation in an endogenous Rs1 gene or an engineered Rs1 gene further comprise genetic material from a heterologous species (e.g., a human). In some embodiments, non-human animals as described herein comprise an engineered Rs1 gene that is a mutant human Rs1 gene, wherein the mutant human Rs1 gene encodes a human RS1 polypeptide that includes a substitution described herein above, e.g., a C59S substitution or an R141C substitution. In some certain embodiments, non-human animals as described herein comprise a mutant human Rs1 gene that is randomly inserted into the genome of the non-human animal such that a human RS1 polypeptide is expressed that includes a substitution described herein above, e.g., a C59S substitution or an R141C substitution.

Retinoschisin-1 Sequences

Exemplary human and non-human Rs1 sequences are set forth in SEQ ID NOS: 1-22 and summarized in Table 1.

An exemplary self-deleting cassette employed for the disruption of a non-human (e.g., mouse) Rs1 allele including a lacZ reporter gene, a Cre recombinase gene under the transcriptional control of a mouse protamine 1 promoter and a neomycin resistance gene flanked by loxP sites under the transcriptional control of a ubiquitin promoter is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 23 (8,202 bp).

An exemplary deletion of a non-human (e.g., mouse) Rs1 allele (sequence of exons 1-3 deleted from an endogenous rodent Rs1 locus) is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 24 (13,716 bp).

An exemplary portion of a disrupted Mus musculus Rs1 allele after recombinase-mediated excision of a selection cassette is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 25.

An exemplary portion of a mutant non-human (e.g., mouse) Rs1 allele encoding a C59S amino acid substitution including a self-deleting hygromycin selection cassette is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 26.

An exemplary portion of a mutant non-human (e.g., mouse) Rs1 allele encoding a C59S amino acid substitution after recombinase-mediated excision of a selection cassette is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 27.

An exemplary portion of a mutant non-human (e.g., mouse) Rs1 allele encoding a R141C amino acid substitution including a self-deleting hygromycin selection cassette is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 28:

An exemplary portion of a mutant non-human (e.g., mouse) Rs1 allele encoding a R141C amino acid substitution after recombinase-mediated excision of a selection cassette is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 29.

TABLE 1 SEQ ID NO Description Features 1 Mus musculus Rs1 mRNA Length: 5855 nt (NCBI ref. seq. NM_011302) Coding region: nt. 174-848 Exons 1-6: nt 1-225, 226-251, 252-357, 358-499, 500-695, 696-5840. 2 Mus musculus Rs1 amino acid Length: 224 aa (NCBI ref. seq. NP_035432) Signal sequence: aa 1-23 3 Rattus norvegicus Rs1 mRNA Length: 675 nt (NCBI ref. seq. Coding region: nt 1-675 NM_001104643) 4 Rattus norvegicus Rs1 amino Length: 224 aa acid (NCBI ref. seq. Signal sequence: aa 1-21 NP_001098113) 5 Macaca mulatta RS1 mRNA Length: 994 nt (NCBI ref. seq. Coding region: nt. 42-716 NM_001194911) 6 Macaca mulatta RS1 amino Length: 224 aa acid (NCBI ref. seq. Signal sequence: aa 1-21 NP_001181840 7 Homo sapiens RS1 mRNA Length: 3039 nt (NCBI ref. seq. NM_000330) Coding region: 36-710 Exons 1-6: 1-87, 88-113, 114-219, 220-360, 361-557, 558-3025. 8 Homo sapiens RS1 amino acid Length: 224 aa (NCBI ref. seq. NP_000321) Signal sequence: aa 1-23 9 Canis lupus farniliaris Rs1 Length: 2061 nt mRNA Coding region: nt 89-763 (NCBI ref. seq. XM_548882) 10 Canis lupus familiaris Rs1 Length: 224 aa amino acid (NCBI ref. seq. XP_548882) 11 Sus scrofa Rs1 mRNA Length: 1772 nt (NCBI ref. seq. Coding region: nt 295-969 XM_013985956) 12 Sus scrofa Rs1 amino acid Length: 224 aa (NCBI ref. seq. XP_013841410) 13 Bos taurus Rs1 mRNA Length: 899 nt (NCBI ref. seq. Coding region: nt. 45-719 XM_010822174) 14 Bos taurus Rs1 amino acid Length: 224 aa (NCBI ref. seq. XP_010820476) 15 Ovis aries RS1 mRNA Length: 1604 nt (NCBI ref. seq. Coding region: nt 702-1337 XM_012106316) 16 Ovis aries (sheep) RS1 amino Length: 211 aa acid (NCBI ref. seq. XP_011961706) 17 Felis catus (cat) RS1 mRNA Length: 4553 nt (NCBI ref. seq. Coding region: nt. 59-733 XM_019823621) 18 Felis catus (cat) RS1 amino Length: 224 aa acid (NCBI ref. seq. XP_019679180) 19 Equus caballus RS1 mRNA Length: 1193 nt (NCBI ref. seq. Coding region: nt. 1-675 XM_001491183) 20 Equus caballus RS1 amino Length: 224 aa acid (NCBI ref. seq. XP_001491233) 21 Oryctolagus cuniculus RS1 Length: 675 nt mRNA Coding region: nt. 1-675 (NCBI ref. seq. NM_001109823) 22 Oryctolagus cuniculus RS1 Length: 224 aa amino acid (NCBI ref. seq. Signal sequence: aa 1-21 NP_001103293) 23 An exemplary self-deleting Length: 8,202 bp cassette employed for the loxP sites: nt. 3431-3464 and 8163-8196 disruption of a non-human (e.g., mouse) Rs1 allele including a lacZ reporter gene, a Cre recombinase gene under the transcriptional control of a mouse protamine 1 promoter and a neomycin resistance gene flanked by loxP sites under the transcriptional control of a ubiquitin promoter. 24 Exemplary deletion of a Length: 13,716 bp mouse Rs1 allele (comprising exon 1 in part and exons 2-3) 25 Exemplary portion of a Length: 3670 nt disrupted Mus musculus Rs1 Mouse sequences: nt 1-100 and 3571-3670 allele after recombinase- lacZ and remaining cloning sites: nt. 101- mediated excision of a 3570 selection cassette. loxP sequence: nt. 3531-3564 26 Exemplary portion of a mutant Length: 5987 nt mouse Rs1 allele encoding a Mouse sequences: nt. 1-755 and 5788-5987 C59S amino acid substitution Mutated codon: nt. 572-574 including a self-deleting Exon 3: nt. 476-581 hygromycin selection cassette Targeting vector sequence: nt. 756-5787 27 Exemplary portion of a mutant Length: nt 1033 nt mouse Rs1 allele encoding a Mouse sequences: nt. 1-755 and 834-1033 C59S amino acid substitution Mutated codon: nt. 572-574 after recombinase-mediated Exon 3: nt. 476-581 excision of a selection cassette Targeting vector sequence: nt. 756-833 28 Exemplary portion of a mutant Length: 5629 nt mouse Rs1 allele encoding a Mouse sequences: nt. 1-497 and 5530-5629 R141C amino acid Mutated codon: nt. 278-280 substitution including a self- Exon 5: nt. 184-379 deleting hygromycin selection Targeting vector sequence: nt. 498-5529. cassette 29 Exemplary portion of a mouse Length: 675 nt Rs1 allele encoding a R141C Mouse sequences: nt. 1-497 amino acid substitution after Mutated codon: nt. 278-280 recombinase-mediated Exon 5: nt. 184-379 excision of a selection cassette Targeting vector sequence: nt. 498-675. 30 Protamine 1 (Prml) promoter 31 Blimp1 promoter l kb 32 Blimp1 promoter 2 kb 33-41 Junction sequences in mutant Rs1 alleles described in Example 1 42-59 Primer and probe sequences described in Example 1

Production of Non-Human Animals

Provided herein are DNA constructs, targeting vectors and methods for the production of non-human animals having a disruption or mutation(s) in an Rs1 gene as described herein.

DNA sequences can be used to prepare targeting vectors for knockout animals (e.g., an Rs1 KO). Typically, a polynucleotide molecule (e.g., an insert nucleic acid) encoding a reporter gene or a mutant (or engineered) Rs1 gene, in whole or in part, is inserted into a vector, preferably a DNA vector, in order to replicate the polynucleotide molecule in a suitable host cell.

A polynucleotide molecule (or insert nucleic acid) comprises a segment of DNA that one desires to integrate into a target locus or gene. In some embodiments, an insert nucleic acid comprises one or more polynucleotides of interest. In some embodiments, an insert nucleic acid comprises one or more expression cassettes. In some certain embodiments, an expression cassette comprises a polynucleotide of interest, a polynucleotide encoding a selection marker and/or a reporter gene along with, in some certain embodiments, various regulatory components that influence expression (e.g., promoter, enhancer, etc.). Virtually any polynucleotide of interest may be contained within an insert nucleic acid and thereby integrated at a target genomic locus. Methods disclosed herein provide for at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or more polynucleotides of interest to be integrated into a targeted Rs1 gene (or locus).

In some embodiments, a polynucleotide of interest contained in an insert nucleic acid encodes a reporter. In some embodiments, a polynucleotide of interest contained in an insert nucleic acid encodes a heterologous, variant or heterologous variant RS1 polypeptide. In some embodiments, a polynucleotide of interest contained in an insert nucleic acid encodes a selectable marker and/or a recombinase.

In some embodiments, a polynucleotide of interest is flanked by or comprises site-specific recombination sites (e.g., loxP, Frt, etc.). In some certain embodiments, site-specific recombination sites flank a DNA segment that encodes a reporter, a DNA segment that encodes a selectable marker, a DNA segment that encodes a recombinase, and combinations thereof. Exemplary polynucleotides of interest, including selection markers, reporter genes and recombinase genes that can be included within insert nucleic acids are described herein.

Depending on size, an Rs1 gene or RS1-encoding sequence as can be cloned directly from cDNA sources available from commercial suppliers or designed in silico based on published sequences available from GenBank (see above). Alternatively, bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) libraries can provide Rs1 sequences from genes of interest (e.g., rodent or heterologous Rs1 genes). BAC libraries contain an average insert size of 100-150 kb and are capable of harboring inserts as large as 300 kb (Shizuya, H. et al., 1992, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., U.S.A. 89:8794-7; Swiatek, P. J. and T. Gridley, 1993, Genes Dev. 7:2071-84; Kim, U. J. et al., 1996, Genomics 34:213-8; herein incorporated by reference). For example, human and mouse genomic BAC libraries have been constructed and are commercially available (e.g., Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.). Genomic BAC libraries can also serve as a source of rodent or heterologous Rs1 sequences as well as transcriptional control regions.

Alternatively, rodent or heterologous Rs1 sequences may be isolated, cloned and/or transferred from yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs). An entire rodent or heterologous Rs1 gene can be cloned and contained within one or a few YACs. If multiple YACs are employed and contain regions of overlapping homology, they can be recombined within yeast host strains to produce a single construct representing the entire locus. YAC arms can be additionally modified with mammalian selection cassettes by retrofitting to assist in introducing the constructs into embryonic stems cells or embryos by methods known in the art and/or described herein.

DNA constructs or targeting vectors containing Rs1 sequences as described herein, in some embodiments, comprise rodent Rs1 genomic sequences encoding a rodent RS1 polypeptide that includes one or more amino acid substitutions as compared to a wild-type or parent rodent RS1 polypeptide operably linked to non-human regulatory sequences (e.g., a rodent promoter) for expression in a genetically modified non-human animal. In some embodiments, DNA constructs or targeting vectors containing Rs1 sequences as described herein comprise rodent Rs1 genomic sequences encoding a variant rodent RS1 polypeptide that includes an amino acid substitution (e.g., C59S or R141C) as compared to a wild-type or parent rodent RS1 polypeptide operably linked to a rodent Rs1 promoter. Examples of desired amino acid substitutions are described herein. Rodent and/or heterologous sequences included in DNA constructs described herein may be identical or substantially identical with rodent and/or heterologous sequences found in nature (e.g., genomic). Alternatively, such sequences may be artificial (e.g., synthetic) or may be engineered by the hand of man. In some embodiments, Rs1 sequences are synthetic in origin and include a sequence or sequences that are found in a rodent or heterologous Rs1 gene found in nature. In some embodiments, Rs1 sequences comprise a sequence naturally associated with a rodent or heterologous Rs1 gene. In some embodiments, Rs1 sequences comprise a sequence that is not naturally associated with a rodent or heterologous Rs1 gene. In some embodiments, Rs1 sequences comprise a sequence that is optimized for expression in a non-human animal. If additional sequences are useful in optimizing expression of a mutant (or variant) Rs1 gene described herein, such sequences can be cloned using existing sequences as probes. Additional sequences necessary for maximizing expression of a mutant Rs1 gene or RS1-encoding sequence can be obtained from genomic sequences or other sources depending on the desired outcome.

DNA constructs or targeting vectors can be prepared using methods known in the art. For example, a DNA construct can be prepared as part of a larger plasmid. Such preparation allows for cloning and selection of the correct constructions in an efficient manner as known in the art. DNA fragments containing sequences as described herein can be located between convenient restriction sites on the plasmid so that they can be easily isolated from the remaining plasmid sequences for incorporation into the desired animal. Various methods employed in preparation of plasmids, DNA constructs and/or targeting vectors and transformation of host organisms are known in the art. For other suitable expression systems for both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, as well as general recombinant procedures, see Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd Ed., ed. by Sambrook, J. et al., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press: 1989.

As described above, exemplary non-human Rs1 nucleic acid and amino acid sequences for use in constructing targeting vectors for non-human animals containing a disrupted or engineered Rs1 gene are provided above. Other non-human Rs1 sequences can also be found in the GenBank database. Rs1 targeting vectors, in some embodiments, comprise DNA sequences encoding a reporter gene, a selectable marker, a recombinase gene (or combinations thereof) and non-human Rs1 sequences (i.e., flanking sequences of a target region) for insertion into the genome of a transgenic non-human animal. In one example, a deletion start point may be set of immediately downstream (3′) of a start codon to allow an insert nucleic acid to be operably linked to an endogenous regulatory sequence (e.g., a promoter). FIGS. 2-4 illustrate an exemplary method and targeting vector for making a targeted deletion of a portion of the coding sequence (e.g., exons 1-3) a murine Rs1 gene, excluding the start codon, and replacement with a cassette that contains a sequence from a lacZ gene that encodes β-galactosidase and a drug selection cassette that encodes neomycin phosphotransferase (Neo) for the selection of G418-resistant embryonic stem (ES) cell colonies. The targeting vector also includes a sequence encoding a recombinase (e.g., Cre) regulated by an ES-cell specific micro RNAs (miRNAs) or a germ-cell specific promoter (e.g., protamine 1 promoter; Prot-Cre-SV40). The neomycin selection cassette and Cre recombinase-encoding sequences are flanked by loxP recombinase recognition sites that enable Cre-mediated excision of the neomycin selection cassette in a development-dependent manner, i.e., progeny derived from rodents whose germ cells contain the disrupted Rs1 gene described above will shed the selectable marker during development (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,697,851, 8,518,392, 8,354,389, 8,946,505, and 8,946,504, all of which are herein incorporated by reference). This allows for, among other things, automatic excision of the neomycin selection cassette from either differentiated cells or germ cells. Thus, prior to phenotypic analysis the neomycin selection cassette is removed leaving only the lacZ reporter gene (fused to the mouse Rs1 start codon) operably linked to the murine Rs1 promoter (FIG. 4).

Methods for generating non-human animals as described herein employ the use of self-deleting selection cassette technology (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,697,851, 8,518,392 and 8,354,389, all of which are incorporated herein by reference). The use of this technology allows for the drawbacks from the presence of selection cassettes in the genome of non-human animals, which facilitate selection of drug-resistant clones, to be avoided. Such self-deleting selection cassette technology is characterized, in some embodiments, by the inclusion of a promoter that is operably linked to a recombinase gene within the targeting vector. The promoter is transcriptionally competent such that the promoter regulates expression of the recombinase gene in a developmentally-dependent fashion due to promoter activity restricted to undifferentiated cells (i.e., ES cells; for transcriptional competence see also, e.g., Ram, R. and E. Meshorer, 2009, Genes Dev. 23:2793-98; Xu, J. et al., 2009, Genes Dev. 23:2824-38). As a result, the recombinase polypeptide is only expressed after the ES cell beings to differentiate (i.e., develop). ES cells that have incorporated a targeting vector as described herein retain the selection cassette due to inactivity of the promoter that controls expression of (i.e., operably inked to) the recombinase gene, but promote excision of the selection cassette once the ES cells begin to differentiate as a result of commencement of recombinase expression. Thus, by design, progeny developing from an ES cell containing the targeting vector within their genome express the recombinase at an early developmental stage and the selectable marker is excised upon differentiation (i.e., development) mediated by action of the recombinase polypeptide on the site-specific recombinase recognition sites flanking the selection cassette.

Suitable promoters that are inactive in undifferentiated ES cells are provided herein. Operably linking such promoters to a recombinase gene provides for expression specifically upon differentiation. As described herein, targeting vectors are designed with site-specific recombinase recognition sites in a parallel orientation flanking a selection marker so that the recombinase polypeptide directs an excision (i.e., deletion) of the selectable marker upon expression. Site-specific recombinase recognition sites may also be placed in inverted orientation flanking a selection marker so that the recombinase polypeptide directs an inversion of the selectable marker upon expression. For some selectable markers, inversion may be sufficient for inactivation. However, complete removal of the selectable marker may also be desired. When a selection cassette is flanked by site-specific recombinase recognition sites in a parallel orientation, expression of the recombinase polypeptide in a differentiated cell will cause the cell to excise the selectable marker from the genome. If the differentiated cells are maintained in selection, they will die due to deletion of the selectable marker from the genome. In this way, undifferentiated ES cells are maintained and enriched in culture for later use as donor cells to a host embryo.

As described herein, disruption of an Rs1 gene can comprise a replacement of or an insertion/addition to the Rs1 gene or a portion thereof with an insert nucleic acid. In some embodiments, an insert nucleic acid comprises a reporter gene. In some certain embodiments, a reporter gene is positioned in operable linkage with an endogenous Rs1 promoter. Such a modification allows for the expression of a reporter gene driven by an endogenous Rs1 promoter. Alternatively, a reporter gene is not placed in operable linkage with an endogenous Rs1 promoter and is operably linked to another promoter.

A variety of reporter genes (or detectable moieties) can be used in targeting vectors described herein. Exemplary reporter genes include, for example, β-galactosidase (encoded lacZ gene), Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP), enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein (eGFP), MmGFP, blue fluorescent protein (BFP), enhanced blue fluorescent protein (eBFP), mPlum, mCherry, tdTomato, mStrawberry, J-Red, DsRed, mOrange, mKO, mCitrine, Venus, YPet, yellow fluorescent protein (YFP), enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (eYFP), Emerald, CyPet, cyan fluorescent protein (CFP), Cerulean, T-Sapphire, luciferase, alkaline phosphatase, or a combination thereof. The methods described herein demonstrate the construction of targeting vectors that employ a lacZ reporter gene that encodes β-galactosidase, however, persons of skill upon reading this disclosure will understand that non-human animals described herein can be generated in the absence of a reporter gene or with any reporter gene known in the art.

Rs1 targeting vectors, in some embodiments, comprise DNA sequences encoding a mutant (or variant) Rs1 gene, a selectable marker and a recombinase, and non-human Rs1 sequences (i.e., flanking sequences of a target region) for insertion into the genome of a transgenic non-human animal. In one example, one or more point mutations may be introduced (e.g., by site-directed mutagenesis) into the coding sequence of an Rs1 gene or RS1-encoding sequence (e.g., an exon) so that a desired RS1 polypeptide (e.g., a variant RS1 polypeptide) is encoded by the mutant Rs1 gene or RS1-encoding sequence. Such a mutant Rs1 sequence may be operably linked to an endogenous regulatory sequence (e.g., a promoter) or constitutive promoter as desired. FIGS. 5-7 and 8-10 illustrate two exemplary targeting vectors for making selected point mutations in an exon (e.g., exon three and five, respectively) of a murine Rs1 gene and a small deletion in surrounding introns with a cassette that contains a drug selection marker that encodes hygromycin (Hyg) for the selection of mutant embryonic stem (ES) cell colonies. As described in the examples section, the small deletions introduced into the surrounding mouse Rs1 introns for each point mutation were designed to facilitate screening of mutant (or variant) ES cell colonies. As shown in the FIGS. 5 and 8, the targeting vectors also each included a sequence encoding a recombinase (e.g., Cre) regulated by an ES-cell specific miRNAs or a germ-cell specific promoter (e.g., protamine 1 promoter; Prot-Cre-SV40). The hygromycin selection cassette and Cre recombinase-encoding sequences are flanked by loxP recombinase recognition sites that enable Cre-mediated excision of the hygromycin selection cassette in a development-dependent manner, e.g., progeny derived from rodents whose germ cells containing the mutant (or variant) Rs1 gene described above will shed the selectable marker during development (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,697,851, 8,518,392, 8,354,389, 8,946,505, and 8,946,504, all of which are herein incorporated by reference). This allows for, among other things, automatic excision of the hygromycin selection cassette from either differentiated cells or germ cells. Thus, prior to phenotypic analysis the hygromycin selection cassette is removed leaving the mutant Rs1 exons operably linked to the murine Rs1 promoter (FIGS. 7 and 10).

Rs1 targeting vectors, in some embodiments, may comprise DNA sequences corresponding to a mutant (or variant) Rs1 gene as described above, which mutant (or variant) Rs1 gene comprises a heterologous Rs1 gene or heterologous RS1-encoding sequence. Suitable heterologous Rs1 sequences are provided herein and may be substituted for sequences exemplified in the Examples section below. Such heterologous sequences may also be engineered to contain point mutations that encode amino acid substitutions as compared to a wild-type or parental heterologous RS1 polypeptide sequence.

Where appropriate, the coding region of the genetic material or polynucleotide sequence(s) encoding a reporter polypeptide (and/or a selectable marker, and/or a recombinase), in whole or in part, or a RS1 polypeptide (e.g., a variant RS1 polypeptide) may be modified to include codons that are optimized for expression in the non-human animal (e.g., see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,670,356 and 5,874,304). Codon optimized sequences are synthetic sequences, and preferably encode the identical polypeptide (or a biologically active fragment of a full-length polypeptide which has substantially the same activity as the full-length polypeptide) encoded by the non-codon optimized parent polynucleotide. In some embodiments, the coding region of the genetic material encoding a reporter polypeptide (e.g., lacZ), in whole or in part, may include an altered sequence to optimize codon usage for a particular cell type (e.g., a rodent cell). In some embodiments, the coding region of the genetic material encoding a RS1 polypeptide as described herein (e.g., a variant RS1 polypeptide), in whole or in part, may include an altered sequence to optimize codon usage for a particular cell type (e.g., a rodent cell). To give but one example, the codons of the reporter or mutant Rs1 gene to be inserted into the genome of a non-human animal (e.g., a rodent) may be optimized for expression in a cell of the non-human animal. Such a sequence may be described as a codon-optimized sequence.

Compositions and methods for making non-human animals that comprise a disruption or mutation in an Rs1 gene as described herein are provided, including compositions and methods for making non-human animals that express a reporter gene under control of Rs1 regulatory sequences such as a Rs1 promoter, and non-human animals that express a variant RS1 polypeptide under control of Rs1 regulatory sequences such as a Rs1 promoter. In some embodiments, compositions and methods for making non-human animals that express a reporter or a variant RS1 polypeptide under control of endogenous regulatory sequences such as an endogenous promoter (e.g., an endogenous Rs1 promoter) are also provided. Methods include inserting a targeting vector, as described herein, comprising a reporter gene (e.g., lacZ; see FIGS. 2-4), into the genome of a non-human animal so that a portion of the coding sequence of an Rs1 gene is deleted, in whole or in part. In some embodiments, methods include inserting a targeting vector into the genome of a non-human animal so that exons 1-3 of an Rs1 gene are deleted.

Insertion of a reporter gene operably linked to an Rs1 promoter (e.g., an endogenous Rs1 promoter) employs a relatively minimal modification of the genome and results in expression of reporter polypeptide in an Rs1-specific manner in the non-human animal (e.g., see FIGS. 11A-11C). In some embodiments, a non-human animal or cell as described herein comprises an Rs1 gene that comprises a targeting vector as described herein; in some certain embodiments, a targeting vector that appears in FIG. 2 or 4.

In various embodiments, a disrupted Rs1 gene as described herein includes one or more (e.g., first and second) insertion junctions resulting from insertion of a reporter gene.

In various embodiments, a disrupted Rs1 gene as described herein includes a first insertion junction that includes a sequence that is at least 80% (e.g., 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or more) identical to SEQ ID NO:33 and a second insertion junction that includes a sequence that is at least 80% (e.g., 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or more) identical to SEQ ID NO:34. In various embodiments, a disrupted Rs1 gene as described herein includes a first insertion junction that includes a sequence that is substantially identical or identical to SEQ ID NO:33 and a second insertion junction that includes a sequence that is substantially identical or identical to SEQ ID NO:34.

In various embodiments, a disrupted Rs1 gene as described herein includes a first insertion junction that includes a sequence that is at least 80% (e.g., 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or more) identical to SEQ ID NO:33 and a second insertion junction that includes a sequence that is at least 80% (e.g., 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or more) identical to SEQ ID NO:35. In various embodiments, a disrupted Rs1 gene as described herein includes a first insertion junction that includes a sequence that is substantially identical or identical to SEQ ID NO:33 and a second insertion junction that includes a sequence that is substantially identical or identical to SEQ ID NO:35.

In various embodiments, a disrupted Rs1 gene or allele as described herein includes a sequence that is at least 80% (e.g., 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or more) identical to SEQ ID NO:23 or SEQ ID NO:25. In various embodiments, a disrupted Rs1 gene or allele as described herein includes a sequence that is substantially identical or identical to SEQ ID NO:23 or SEQ ID NO:25.

In various embodiments, a disrupted Rs1 gene or allele as described herein comprises a deletion of 13,716 bp of an endogenous Rs1 gene or allele. In various embodiments, a disrupted Rs1 gene or allele as described herein lacks a sequence that is substantially identical or identical to SEQ ID NO:24.

Methods also include inserting a targeting vector, as described herein, encoding a variant RS1 polypeptide (see FIGS. 5-7 and 8-10), in whole or in part, into the genome of a non-human animal so that a portion (e.g., an exon) of the coding sequence of a Rs1 gene is altered. In some embodiments, methods include inserting targeting vector into the genome of a non-human animal so that an exon of a Rs1 gene is mutated to encode a variant RS1 polypeptide.

Insertion of a mutant Rs1 gene operably linked to a Rs1 promoter (e.g., an endogenous Rs1 promoter) employs a relatively minimal modification of the genome and results in expression of variant RS1 polypeptide in the non-human animal that is functionally and structurally different than an RS1 polypeptide that appears in a wild-type non-human animal. In some embodiments, a non-human animal or cell described herein comprises an Rs1 gene that comprises a targeting vector as described herein; in some certain embodiments, a targeting vector that appears in FIG. 5 or 8.

In various embodiments, a mutant Rs1 gene as described herein includes one or more (e.g., first and second) insertion junctions resulting from insertion of a targeting vector as described herein.

In various embodiments, a mutant Rs1 gene as described herein includes a first insertion junction that includes a sequence that is at least 80% (e.g., 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or more) identical to SEQ ID NO:36 and a second insertion junction that includes a sequence that is at least 80% (e.g., 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or more) identical to SEQ ID NO:37. In various embodiments, a mutant Rs1 gene as described herein includes a first insertion junction that includes a sequence that is substantially identical or identical to SEQ ID NO:36 and a second insertion junction that includes a sequence that is substantially identical or identical to SEQ ID NO:37.

In various embodiments, a mutant Rs1 gene as described herein includes an insertion junction that includes a sequence that is at least 80% (e.g., 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or more) identical to SEQ ID NO:38. In various embodiments, a mutant Rs1 gene as described herein includes an insertion junction that includes a sequence that is substantially identical or identical to SEQ ID NO:38.

In various embodiments, a mutant Rs1 gene as described herein comprises a third exon that includes a point mutation such that the mutant Rs1 gene encodes an RS1 polypeptide having a C59S amino acid substitution. In various embodiments, a mutant Rs1 gene as described herein comprises a third exon that includes a codon mutation of TGT to AGT such that the mutant Rs1 gene encodes an RS1 polypeptide having a C59S amino acid substitution.

In various embodiments, a mutant Rs1 gene as described herein includes a first insertion junction that includes a sequence that is at least 80% (e.g., 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or more) identical to SEQ ID NO:39 and a second insertion junction that includes a sequence that is at least 80% (e.g., 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or more) identical to SEQ ID NO:40. In various embodiments, a mutant Rs1 gene as described herein includes a first insertion junction that includes a sequence that is substantially identical or identical to SEQ ID NO:39 and a second insertion junction that includes a sequence that is substantially identical or identical to SEQ ID NO:40.

In various embodiments, a mutant Rs1 gene as described herein includes an insertion junction that includes a sequence that is at least 80% (e.g., 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or more) identical to SEQ ID NO:41. In various embodiments, a mutant Rs1 gene as described herein includes an insertion junction that includes a sequence that is substantially identical or identical to SEQ ID NO:41.

In various embodiments, a mutant Rs1 gene as described herein comprises a fifth exon that includes a point mutation such that the mutant Rs1 gene encodes an RS1 polypeptide having a R141C amino acid substitution. In various embodiments, a mutant Rs1 gene as described herein comprises a fifth exon that includes a codon mutation of CGC to TGC such that the mutant Rs1 gene encodes an RS1 polypeptide having a R141C amino acid substitution.

In various embodiments, a mutant Rs1 gene or allele as described herein comprises a sequence that is at least 80% (e.g., 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or more) identical to SEQ ID NO:27 or SEQ ID NO:29. In various embodiments, a mutant Rs1 gene or allele as described herein comprises a sequence that is substantially identical or identical to SEQ ID NO:27 or SEQ ID NO:29.

Alternatively, other Rs1 genes or RS1-encoding sequences may be employed in the methods described herein to generate non-human animals whose genomes contain a mutant Rs1 gene as described herein. For example, a heterologous Rs1 gene may be introduced into a non-human animal, which heterologous Rs1 gene encodes a variant RS1 polypeptide as described herein (i.e., comprises a mutation that establishes a Retinoschisis-like phenotype in a non-human animal). In another example, a transgenic Rs1 gene may be randomly inserted into the genome a non-human animal and an endogenous Rs1 gene rendered non-functional (e.g., via genetic modification, gene knockdown with DNA or RNA oligonucleotides, etc.). Exemplary alternative Rs1 genes or RS1-encoding sequences are provided herein. Persons of skill upon reading this disclosure will understand that such Rs1 genes or RS1-encoding sequences can be employed in the methods described herein to generate non-human animals.

Targeting vectors described herein may be introduced into ES cells and screened for ES clones harboring a disrupted or mutant Rs1 gene as described herein in Frendewey, D., et al., 2010, Methods Enzymol. 476:295-307. A variety of host embryos can be employed in the methods and compositions disclosed herein. For example, the pluripotent and/or totipotent cells having the targeted genetic modification can be introduced into a pre-morula stage embryo (e.g., an 8-cell stage embryo) from a corresponding organism. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,576,259, 7,659,442, 7,294,754, and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008-0078000 A1, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. In other instances, donor ES cells may be implanted into a host embryo at the 2-cell stage, 4-cell stage, 8-cell stage, 16-cell stage, 32-cell stage, or 64-cell stage. A host embryo can also be a blastocyst or can be a pre-blastocyst embryo, a pre-morula stage embryo, a morula stage embryo, an uncompacted morula stage embryo, or a compacted morula stage embryo.

In some embodiments, the VELOCIMOUSE® method (Poueymirou, W. T. et al., 2007, Nat. Biotechnol. 25:91-99) may be applied to inject positive ES cells into an 8-cell embryo to generate fully ES cell-derived F0 generation heterozygous mice ready for lacZ expression profiling or breeding to homozygosity. Exemplary methods for generating non-human animals having a disrupted or mutant Rs1 gene are provided in the Example section.

Methods for generating transgenic non-human animals, including knockouts and knock-ins, are well known in the art (see, e.g., Kitamura, D. et al., 1991, Nature 350:423-6; Komori, T. et al., 1993, Science 261:1171-5; Shinkai, Y. et al., 1993, Science 259:822-5; Mansour, S. L. et al., 1998, Nature 336:348-52; Gene Targeting: A Practical Approach, Joyner, ed., Oxford University Press, Inc., 2000; Valenzuela, D. M. et al., 2003, Nature Biotech. 21(6):652-9; Adams, N. C. and N. W. Gale, in Mammalian and Avian Transgenesis—New Approaches, ed. Lois, S. P. a. C., Springer Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg, 2006). For example, generation of transgenic rodents may involve disruption of the genetic loci of an endogenous rodent gene and introduction of a reporter gene into the rodent genome, in some embodiments, at the same location as the endogenous rodent gene, or may involve the altering the genetic loci of an endogenous rodent gene and introduction of one or more mutations into the rodent genome, in some embodiments, at the same location as the endogenous rodent gene, resulting in the expression of a variant polypeptide.

A schematic illustration (not to scale) of the genomic organization of a mouse Rs1 gene is provided in FIG. 1. An exemplary targeting vector for deletion of a portion of the coding sequence of mouse Rs1 gene using a reporter gene is provided in FIG. 2. As illustrated, genomic DNA containing exons 1-3 (with the exception of the ATG start codon in exon 1) of a mouse Rs1 gene is deleted and replaced with a reporter gene and a self-deleting drug selection cassette flanked by site-specific recombinase recognition sites. The targeting vector includes a recombinase-encoding sequence that is operably linked to a promoter that is developmentally regulated such that the recombinase is expressed in undifferentiated cells. Upon homologous recombination, exons 1-3 of an endogenous mouse Rs1 gene are deleted (or replaced) by the sequence contained in the targeting vector as shown and engineered mice having a Rs1 gene that has the structure depicted in FIG. 4 are created via Cre-mediated excision of the neomycin cassette during development leaving the lacZ reporter gene (fused to a mouse Rs1 start codon) operably linked to the mouse Rs1 promoter.

Exemplary targeting vectors for creating mutations (e.g., substitution mutations) in mouse Rs1 gene are provided in FIGS. 5-7 and 8-10. As illustrated, a mutant mouse Rs1 gene (i.e., a mutant Rs1 gene having point mutations in exon three or five) is created with a targeting vector that includes a self-deleting drug selection cassette flanked by site-specific recombinase recognition sites placed downstream of a mutant Rs1 exon and within a Rs1 intron (see also FIG. 5 or 8). The targeting vector includes a recombinase-encoding sequence that is operably linked to a promoter that is developmentally regulated such that the recombinase is expressed in undifferentiated cells. Upon homologous recombination, a single exon (and portions of surrounding introns) of an endogenous mouse Rs1 gene is replaced by the sequence contained in the targeting vector as shown and engineered mice having a mutant Rs1 gene that has the structure depicted in FIG. 7 or 10 are created via Cre-mediated excision of the selection cassette during development leaving a mutant Rs1 gene having a point mutation in a single exon operably linked to a mouse Rs1 promoter, and small deletions (with a unique loxP site) within an adjacent intron(s). The resulting mutant Rs1 genes each encode an RS1 polypeptide that includes an amino acid substitution (e.g., C59S or R141C).

Exemplary promoters than can be included in targeting vectors described herein include a Protamine 1 (Prm1) promoter (such as the one set forth in SEQ ID NO: 30), a Blimp1 promoter 1 kb (such as the one set forth in SEQ ID NO: 31), and a Blimp1 promoter 2 kb (such as the one set forth in SEQ ID NO: 32). Additional suitable promoters that can be used in targeting vectors described herein include those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,697,851, 8,518,392 and 8,354,389; all of which are incorporated herein by reference).

A transgenic founder non-human animal can be identified based upon the presence of a reporter gene (or absence of Rs1) in its genome and/or expression of a reporter in tissues or cells of the non-human animal (or lack of expression of RS1), or the presence of one or more point mutations in an Rs1 coding sequence (e.g., an exon) and/or a deletion of a non-coding Rs1 sequence (e.g., an intron) in its genome and/or expression of a variant RS1 polypeptide in tissues or cells of the non-human animal (or lack of expression of wild-type RS1 polypeptide). A transgenic founder non-human animal can then be used to breed additional non-human animals carrying the reporter gene or mutant Rs1 gene thereby creating a series of non-human animals each carrying one or more copies of a disrupted or mutant Rs1 gene as described herein.

Transgenic non-human animals may also be produced to contain selected systems that allow for regulated or directed expression of a transgene or polynucleotide molecule (e.g., an insert nucleic acid). Exemplary systems include the Cre/loxP recombinase system of bacteriophage P1 (see, e.g., Lakso, M. et al., 1992, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:6232-6236) and the FLP/Frt recombinase system of S. cerevisiae (O'Gorman, S. et al, 1991, Science 251:1351-1355). Such animals can be provided through the construction of “double” transgenic animals, e.g., by mating two transgenic animals, one containing a transgene encoding a selected polypeptide (e.g., a reporter, variant or heterologous RS1 polypeptide) and the other containing a transgene encoding a recombinase (e.g., a Cre recombinase).

Although embodiments employing a disruption or mutation in an Rs1 gene in a mouse are extensively discussed herein, other non-human animals that comprise such modifications (or alterations) in an Rs1 gene locus are also provided. In some embodiments, such non-human animals comprise a disruption in an Rs1 gene (e.g., a mouse with a deletion of a portion of an Rs1 coding sequence) characterized by insertion of a reporter operably linked to an endogenous Rs1 promoter or a mutation in an Rs1 gene (e.g., a mouse with one or more point mutations in one or more Rs1 exons) characterized by insertion of a mutant Rs1 exon or exons (e.g., an exon that contains one or more point mutations) operably linked to an endogenous Rs1 promoter. Such non-human animals include any of those which can be genetically modified to disrupt or mutate a coding sequence of a Rs1 gene as disclosed herein, including, e.g., mammals, e.g., mouse, rat, rabbit, pig, bovine (e.g., cow, bull, buffalo), deer, sheep, goat, chicken, cat, dog, ferret, primate (e.g., marmoset, rhesus monkey), etc. For those non-human animals for which suitable genetically modifiable ES cells are not readily available, other methods are employed to make a non-human animal comprising the genetic modification. Such methods include, e.g., modifying a non-ES cell genome (e.g., a fibroblast or an induced pluripotent cell) and employing somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) to transfer the genetically modified genome to a suitable cell, e.g., an enucleated oocyte, and gestating the modified cell (e.g., the modified oocyte) in a non-human animal under suitable conditions to form an embryo.

Briefly, methods for nuclear transfer include steps of: (1) enucleating an oocyte; (2) isolating a donor cell or nucleus to be combined with the enucleated oocyte; (3) inserting the cell or nucleus into the enucleated oocyte to form a reconstituted cell; (4) implanting the reconstituted cell into the womb of an animal to form an embryo; and (5) allowing the embryo to develop. In such methods oocytes are generally retrieved from deceased animals, although they may be isolated also from either an oviduct and/or ovary of live animals. Oocytes may be matured in a variety of medium known to persons of skill in the art prior to enucleation. Enucleation of the oocyte can be performed in a variety of ways known to persons of skill in the art. Insertion of a donor cell or nucleus into an enucleated oocyte to form a reconstituted cell is typically achieved by microinjection of a donor cell under the zona pellucida prior to fusion. Fusion may be induced by application of a DC electrical pulse across the contact/fusion plane (electrofusion), by exposure of the cells to fusion-promoting chemicals, such as polyethylene glycol, or by way of an inactivated virus, such as the Sendai virus. A reconstituted cell is typically activated by electrical and/or non-electrical means before, during, and/or after fusion of the nuclear donor and recipient oocyte. Activation methods include electric pulses, chemically induced shock, penetration by sperm, increasing levels of divalent cations in the oocyte, and reducing phosphorylation of cellular proteins (as by way of kinase inhibitors) in the oocyte. The activated reconstituted cells, or embryos, are typically cultured in medium known to persons of skill in the art and then transferred to the womb of an animal. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,612,250; U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2004-0177390 A1 and 2008-0092249 A1; and International Patent Application Publication Nos. WO 1999/005266 A2 and WO 2008/017234 A1; each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Methods for modifying a non-human animal genome (e.g., a pig, cow, rodent, chicken, etc. genome) include, e.g., employing a zinc finger nuclease (ZFN), a transcription activator-like effector nuclease (TALEN), or a Cas protein (i.e., a CRISPR/Cas system) to modify a genome to include a disrupted or mutant Rs1 gene as described herein.

In some embodiments, a non-human animal of the present disclosure is a mammal. In some embodiments, a non-human animal as described herein is a small mammal, e.g., of the superfamily Dipodoidea or Muroidea. In some embodiments, a non-human animal as described herein is a rodent. In some embodiments, a rodent as described herein is selected from a mouse, a rat, and a hamster. In some embodiments, a rodent as described herein is selected from the superfamily Muroidea. In some embodiments, a genetically modified animal as described herein is from a family selected from Calomyscidae (e.g., mouse-like hamsters), Cricetidae (e.g., hamster, New World rats and mice, voles), Muridae (true mice and rats, gerbils, spiny mice, crested rats), Nesomyidae (climbing mice, rock mice, white-tailed rats, Malagasy rats and mice), Platacanthomyidae (e.g., spiny dormice), and Spalacidae (e.g., mole rates, bamboo rats, and zokors). In some certain embodiments, a rodent as described herein is selected from a true mouse or rat (family Muridae), a gerbil, a spiny mouse, and a crested rat. In some certain embodiments, a mouse as described herein is from a member of the family Muridae. In some embodiment, a non-human animal as described herein is a rodent. In some certain embodiments, a rodent as described herein is selected from a mouse and a rat. In some embodiments, a non-human animal as described herein is a mouse.

In some embodiments, a non-human animal as described herein is a rodent that is a mouse of a C57BL strain selected from C57BL/A, C57BL/An, C57BL/GrFa, C57BL/KaLwN, C57BL/6, C57BL/6J, C57BL/6ByJ, C57BL/6NJ, C57BL/10, C57BL/10ScSn, C57BL/10Cr, and C57BL/Ola. In some certain embodiments, a mouse as described herein is a 129 strain selected from the group consisting of a strain that is 129P1, 129P2, 129P3, 129X1, 129S1 (e.g., 129S1/SV, 129S1/SvIm), 129S2, 129S4, 129S5, 129S9/SvEvH, 129/SvJae, 129S6 (129/SvEvTac), 129S7, 129S8, 129T1, 129T2 (see, e.g., Festing et al., 1999, Mammalian Genome 10:836; Auerbach, W. et al., 2000, Biotechniques 29(5):1024-1028, 1030, 1032). In some certain embodiments, a genetically modified mouse as described herein is a mix of an aforementioned 129 strain and an aforementioned C57BL/6 strain. In some certain embodiments, a mouse as described herein is a mix of aforementioned 129 strains, or a mix of aforementioned BL/6 strains. In some certain embodiments, a mouse as described herein is a mix of or derived from aforementioned BL/6 strains that does not contain (or lacks) a Crb1^(rd8) mutation (i.e., comprises a wild-type Crb1). In some certain embodiments, a 129 strain of the mix as described herein is a 129S6 (129/SvEvTac) strain. In some embodiments, a mouse as described herein is a BALB strain, e.g., BALB/c strain. In some embodiments, a mouse as described herein is a mix of a BALB strain and another aforementioned strain.

In some embodiments, a non-human animal as described herein is a rat. In some certain embodiments, a rat as described herein is selected from a Wistar rat, an LEA strain, a Sprague Dawley strain, a Fischer strain, F344, F6, and Dark Agouti. In some certain embodiments, a rat strain as described herein is a mix of two or more strains selected from the group consisting of Wistar, LEA, Sprague Dawley, Fischer, F344, F6, and Dark Agouti.

A rat pluripotent and/or totipotent cell can be from any rat strain, including, for example, an ACI rat strain, a Dark Agouti (DA) rat strain, a Wistar rat strain, a LEA rat strain, a Sprague Dawley (SD) rat strain, or a Fischer rat strain such as Fisher F344 or Fisher F6. Rat pluripotent and/or totipotent cells can also be obtained from a strain derived from a mix of two or more strains recited above. For example, a rat pluripotent and/or totipotent cell can be from a DA strain or an ACI strain. An ACI rat strain is characterized as having black agouti, with white belly and feet and an RT1^(av1) haplotype. Such strains are available from a variety of sources including Harlan Laboratories. An example of a rat ES cell line from an ACI rat is an ACI.G1 rat ES cell. A Dark Agouti (DA) rat strain is characterized as having an agouti coat and an RT1^(av1) haplotype. Such rats are available from a variety of sources including Charles River and Harlan Laboratories. Examples of a rat ES cell line from a DA rat are the DA.2B rat ES cell line and the DA.2C rat ES cell line. In some cases, rat pluripotent and/or totipotent cells are from an inbred rat strain. See, e.g., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014-0235933 A1, incorporated herein by reference. Rat ES cells and methods of making genetically modified rats have also been described in the art. See, e.g., US 2014/0235933 A1, US 2014/0310828 A1, Tong et al. (2010) Nature 467:211-215, and Tong et al. (2011) Nat Protoc. 6(6): doi:10.1038/nprot.2011.338 (all of which are incorporated herein by reference).

Non-human animals are provided that comprise a disruption or mutation in an Rs1 gene. In some embodiments, a disruption or mutation in an Rs1 gene results in a loss-of-function. In particular, loss-of-function mutations include mutations that result in a decrease or lack of expression of RS1 and/or a decrease or lack of activity/function of RS1. In some embodiments, loss-of-function mutations result in one or more phenotypes as compared to wild-type non-human animals. Expression of RS1 may be measured directly, e.g., by assaying the level of RS1 in a cell or tissue of a non-human animal as described herein.

Typically, expression level and/or activity of RS1 is decreased if the expression and/or activity level of RS1 is statistically lower (p<0.05) than the level of RS1 in an appropriate control cell or non-human animal that does not comprises the same disruption (e.g., deletion). In some embodiments, concentration and/or activity of RS1 is decreased by at least 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 99% or more in a homozygous female or a hemizygous male animal relative to a control cell or non-human animal which lacks the same disruption (e.g., deletion).

In other embodiments, cells or organisms having a disruption or mutation in an Rs1 gene that reduces the expression level and/or activity of RS1 are selected using methods that include, but not limited to, Southern blot analysis, DNA sequencing, PCR analysis, or phenotypic analysis. Such cells or non-human animals are then employed in various methods and compositions described herein.

In some embodiments, an endogenous Rs1 gene is not deleted (i.e., intact). In some embodiments, an endogenous Rs1 gene is altered, disrupted, deleted or replaced with a heterologous sequence (e.g., a reporter gene encoding sequence). In some embodiments, all or substantially all of an endogenous Rs1 gene is replaced with an insert nucleic acid; in some certain embodiments, replacement includes replacement of a portion of the coding sequence of an endogenous Rs1 gene with a reporter gene (e.g., lacZ) so that the reporter gene is in operable linkage with an Rs1 promoter (e.g., an endogenous Rs1 promoter). In some embodiments, a portion of a reporter gene (e.g., a function fragment thereof) is inserted into an endogenous non-human Rs1 gene. In some embodiments, a reporter gene is a lacZ gene. In some embodiments, a reporter gene is inserted into one of the two copies of an endogenous Rs1 gene in a female non-human animal, giving rise to a non-human female animal that is heterozygous with respect to the reporter gene. In some embodiments, a non-human female animal is provided that is homozygous for a reporter gene.

Non-human animals are provided that comprise a mutation(s) in an Rs1 gene. In some embodiments, a mutation in an Rs1 gene results in the expression of a variant RS1 polypeptide (e.g., an RS1 polypeptide that includes one or more amino acid substitutions as compared to a wild-type RS1 polypeptide). Expression of variant RS1 may be measured directly, e.g., by assaying the level of variant RS1 in a cell or tissue of a non-human animal as described herein.

In other embodiments, cells or organisms having a mutation(s) in an Rs1 gene are selected using methods that include, but not limited to, Southern blot analysis, DNA sequencing, PCR analysis, or phenotypic analysis. Such cells or non-human animals are then employed in various methods and compositions described herein.

In some embodiments, an endogenous Rs1 gene is altered or replaced with a mutant Rs1 sequence (e.g., a mutant RS1-encoding sequence, in whole or in part). In some embodiments, all or substantially all of an endogenous Rs1 gene is replaced with an insert nucleic acid; in some certain embodiments, replacement includes replacement of an endogenous Rs1 exon (e.g., exon three or five) with a mutant Rs1 exon (e.g., a synthetic exon three or synthetic exon five) so that the mutant Rs1 exon is in operable linkage with an Rs1 promoter (e.g., an endogenous Rs1 promoter) and other endogenous Rs1 exons. In some embodiments, a mutant Rs1 exon is inserted into an endogenous Rs1 gene, which mutant Rs1 exon contains one or more point mutations; in some certain embodiments, one point mutation. In some embodiments, a mutant Rs1 exon is inserted into one of the two copies of an endogenous Rs1 gene in a female non-human animal, giving rise to a female non-human animal that is heterozygous with respect to the mutant Rs1 exon. In some embodiments, a female non-human animal is provided that is homozygous for a mutant Rs1 exon. In some embodiments, non-human animals that comprise a mutant endogenous Rs1 gene further comprise one or more Rs1 introns that include a deletion and/or a site-specific recombinase recognition site (e.g., loxP).

Non-Human Animal Model of Retinoschisis and Methods of Use

Non-human animals described herein provide improved animal models for Retinoschisis. In particular, non-human animals as described herein provide improved animal models that translate to X-linked Retinoschisis disease pathology, characterized by, for example, progressive loss of central and peripheral vision due to degeneration of the retina.

For example, a disruption or mutation in an Rs1 gene as described herein may result in various symptoms (or phenotypes) in non-human animals provided herein. In some embodiments, disruption or mutation in an Rs1 gene results in non-human animals that are grossly normal at birth, but that develop one or more symptoms upon aging, e.g., after about 8 weeks, 9 weeks, 10 weeks, 11 weeks, 12 weeks, 13 weeks, 14 weeks, 15 weeks, 16 weeks, 17 weeks, 18 weeks, 19 weeks, 20 weeks, 21 weeks, 22 weeks, 23 weeks, 24 weeks, 25 weeks, 26 weeks, 27 weeks, 28 weeks, 29 weeks, 30 weeks, 31 weeks, 32 weeks, 33 weeks, 34 weeks, 35 weeks, 36 weeks, 37 weeks, 38 weeks, 39 weeks, 40 weeks, 41 weeks, 42 weeks, 43 weeks, 44 weeks, 45 weeks, 46 weeks, 47 weeks, 48 weeks, 49 weeks, 50 weeks, 51 weeks, 52 weeks, 53 weeks, 54 weeks, 55 weeks, 56 weeks, 57 weeks, 58 weeks, 59 weeks, 60 weeks, etc. In some embodiments, disruption or mutation in an Rs1 gene results in non-human animals having abnormal structure and/or function of one or both retinas. In some embodiments, disruption or mutation in an Rs1 gene results in non-human animals demonstrating one or more symptoms (or phenotypes) associated with Retinoschisis. Such symptoms (or phenotypes) may include, for example, splitting of one or both retina into two layers, abnormal retinal and/or macular structure or architecture, spoke-like streaks in the fovea (center of the macular), presence of blisters and/or rupture blood vessels in the spaces created by the splitting of one or both retina into two layers, leakage of blood into the vitreous body of one or both retinas, vision loss and/or impairment, blindness, retinal pigmentation and/or degeneration, degeneration and separation of the vitreous body from the retina, and retinal detachment. In certain embodiments, the symptoms or phenotypes include the development of cystic structures within the inner retina, and reduced ERG b- and a-wave responses as compared to wild type non-human animals, followed by a loss of photoreceptor cells. In some embodiments, a disruption or mutation in an Rs1 locus of a non-human animal as described herein results in early-onset (for example, at or by postnatal day 15, 18, 21, 24 or 27) functional and morphological phenotypes of the retina in the non-human animal. In some embodiments, the early-onset functional defects of the retina may be reflected by (i) reduced b-wave relative to a wave (resulting in negative ERG) in dark-adapted and light-adapted ERG analyses; (ii) decreased maximum response and sensitivity values of ERG b-waves; (iii) decreased maximum response values of ERG a-waves; or (iv) a combination of (i)-(iii), as compared to wild type non-human animals. In some embodiments, early-onset morphological defects of the retina may be reflected by schisis, a broader ellipsoid zone (EZ), thinner outer retina, or a combination thereof, as compared to wild type non-human animals. In some embodiments, non-human animals described herein provide improved in vivo systems for identifying and developing candidate therapeutics for the treatment of Retinoschisis (e.g., X-linked Retinoschisis). Thus, in at least some embodiments, non-human animals described herein provide improved animal models for X-linked Retinoschisis and/or eye diseases and can be used for the development and/or identification of therapeutic agents for the treatment and/or prevention of eye-related diseases, disorders or conditions.

Non-human animals as described herein provide an improved in vivo system and source of biological materials (e.g., cells) that lack expression of RS1 or that express variant RS1 polypeptides that are useful for a variety of assays. In various embodiments, non-human animals described herein are used to develop therapeutics that treat, prevent and/or inhibit one or more symptoms associated with a lack of RS1 expression and/or activity (e.g., gene therapy/replacement). In various embodiments, non-human animals described herein are used to develop therapeutics that treat, prevent and/or inhibit one or more symptoms associated with expression of variant RS1 polypeptides. Due to the expression of variant RS1 polypeptides, non-human animals described herein are useful for use in various assays to determine the functional consequences on retinal structure and development. In some embodiments, non-human animals described herein provide an animal model for screening molecules that are involved in RS1 structure and/or function.

Non-human animals described herein also provide an in vivo system for identifying a therapeutic agent for treating, preventing and/or inhibiting progressive vision loss resulting from degeneration of the structure and/or function of one or both retinas. In some embodiments, an effect of a therapeutic agent is determined in vivo, by administering said therapeutic agent to a non-human animal whose genome comprises an Rs1 gene as described herein.

Non-human animals described herein also provide improved animal models for eye-related diseases, disorders or conditions. In particular, non-human animals as described herein provide improved animal models that translate to conditions characterized by a breakdown of cell-to-cell adhesion in the neurosensory layers of one or both retinas.

Non-human animals may be administered a therapeutic agent to be tested by any convenient route, for example, by intravenous, intraperitoneal or intravitreal injection. Such animals may be included in an immunological study, so as to determine the effect of the therapeutic agent on vision (e.g., effect on neurosensory function of the retina) of the non-human animals as compared to appropriate control non-human animals that did not receive the therapeutic agent. A biopsy or anatomical evaluation of animal tissue (e.g., eye tissue) may also be performed, and/or a sample of blood may be collected.

In various embodiments, non-human animals described herein are used to identify, screen and/or develop candidate therapeutics (e.g., antibodies) that rescue photoreceptor function in one or both retinas. In various embodiments, non-human animals described herein are used to determine the efficacy of Rs1 gene delivery to photoreceptors. In some embodiments, non-human animals described herein are used to determine and/or optimize vector design of one or more candidate retinal gene therapies that encode an RS1 polypeptide.

In various embodiments, non-human animals described herein are used to determine the pharmacokinetic profiles of a candidate drug, e.g., an Rs1 gene therapy drug. In various embodiments, one or more non-human animals described herein and one or more control or reference non-human animals are each exposed to one or more candidate drugs, e.g., Rs1 gene therapy drugs, at various doses (e.g., 0.1 mg/kg, 0.2 mg/kg, 0.3 mg/kg, 0.4 mg/kg, 0.5 mg/kg, 1 mg/kg, 2 mg/kg, 3 mg/kg, 4 mg/kg, 5 mg/mg, 7.5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, 15 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg, 25 mg/kg, 30 mg/kg, 40 mg/kg, or 50 mg/kg or more). Candidate drugs, e.g., Rs1 gene therapy drugs, may be dosed via any desired route of administration including parenteral and non-parenteral routes of administration for evaluation in non-human animals described herein. Parenteral routes include, e.g., intravenous, intraarterial, intraportal, intramuscular, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, intraspinal, intrathecal, intracerebroventricular, intracranial, intrapleural or other routes of injection. Non-parenteral routes include, e.g., oral, nasal, transdermal, pulmonary, rectal, buccal, vaginal, ocular. Administration may also be by continuous infusion, local administration, sustained release from implants (gels, membranes or the like), and/or intravenous injection. Blood is isolated from non-human animals at various time points (e.g., 0 hour, 6 hours, 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, 5 days, 6 days, 7 days, 8 days, 9 days, 10 days, 11 days, or up to 30 or more days). Various assays may be performed to determine the pharmacokinetic profiles of administered drugs using samples obtained from non-human animals described herein including, but not limited to, total IgG, anti-drug response, agglutination, etc.

In various embodiments, non-human animals described herein are used to determine the therapeutic efficacy of one or more candidate drugs, e.g., Rs1 gene therapy drugs. In various embodiments, one or more non-human animals described herein and one or more control or reference non-human animals are each exposed to one or more candidate drugs, e.g., Rs1 gene therapy drugs, at various doses (e.g., 0.1 mg/μL, 0.2 mg/μL, 0.3 mg/μL, 0.4 mg/μL, 0.5 mg/μL, 0.6 mg/μL, 0.7 mg/μL, 0.8 mg/μL, 0.9 mg/μL, 1.0 mg/μL, 1.1 mg/μL, 1.2 mg/μL, 1.3 mg/μL, 1.4 mg/μL, 1.5 mg/μL, 1.6 mg/μL, 1.7 mg/4, 1.8 mg/4, 1.9 mg/μL, 2.0 mg/μL, 2.1 mg/4, 2.2 mg/4, 2.3 mg/μL, 2.4 mg/μL, 2.5 mg/4, 2.6 mg/4, 2.7 mg/μL, 2.8 mg/μL, 2.9 mg/4, 3.0 mg/4, 3.1 mg/μL, 3.2 mg/4, 3.3 mg/4, 3.4 mg/μL, 3.5 mg/μL, 3.6 mg/4, 3.7 mg/4, 3.8 mg/μL, 3.9 mg/μL, 4.0 mg/4, 4.1 mg/4, 4.2 mg/μL, 4.3 mg/μL, 4.4 mg/4, 4.5 mg/4, 4.6 mg/μL, 4.7 mg/4, 4.8 mg/4, 4.9 mg/μL or 5.0 mg/4 or more). In some embodiments, candidate drugs, e.g., Rs1 gene therapy drugs, are given to a non-human animal described herein at birth or shortly after birth, e.g., within 18, 15, 12, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1 day after birth. Candidate drugs, e.g., Rs1 gene therapy drugs, are preferentially dosed via an intravitreal route, however, any desired route of administration including parenteral and non-parenteral routes of administration (see above) may be evaluated in non-human animals described herein. In various embodiments, one or more candidate drugs, e.g., Rs1 gene therapy drugs, are injected via an intravitreal route at various volumes (e.g., 1 μL, 2 μL, 3 μL, 4 μL, 5 μL, 6 μL, 7 μL, 8 μL, 9 μL, 10 μL, 11 μL, 12 μL, 13 μL, 14 μL, 15 μL, 16 μL, 17 μL, 18 μL, 19 μL, 20 μL, 21 μL, 22 μL, 23 μL, 24 μL, 25 μL, 26 μL, 27 μL, 28 μL, 29 μL, 30 μL, 31 μL, 32 μL, 33 μL, 34 μL, 35 μL, 36 μL, 37 μL, 38 μL, 39 μL, 40 μL, 41 μL, 42 μL, 43 μL, 44 μL, 45 μL, 46 μL, 47 μL, 48 μL, 49 μL or 50 μL or more). Injections may be continuous or follow a specific time course (e.g., weekly, biweekly, monthly, etc.). Retinal function and/or visual acuity is determined using assays known in the art and/or described herein at various time points (e.g., 0 hour, 6 hours, 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, 5 days, 6 days, 7 days, 8 days, 9 days, 10 days, 11 days, 15, 18, 21, 24, or up to 30 or more days). Various functional and/or morphological analyses may be performed on retinas and/or eyecups harvested from non-human animals described herein and one or more control or reference non-human animals after administration of one or more candidate drugs, e.g., Rs1 gene therapy drugs, to determine the effect on RS1 function and/or RS1-dependent processes.

In various embodiments, non-human animals as described herein are used to measure the therapeutic effect of restoring Rs1 activity and the effect on retinal structure and/or function as a result of cellular changes in the eye. In various embodiments, a non-human animal as described herein or cells isolated therefrom are exposed to a candidate drug, e.g., an Rs1 gene therapy drug, and, after a subsequent period of time, analyzed for effects on Rs 1-dependent processes (or interactions).

Cells (e.g., retinal cells) from non-human animals as described herein can be isolated and used on an ad hoc basis, or can be maintained in culture for many generations. In various embodiments, cells from a non-human animal described herein are immortalized (e.g., via use of a virus, cell fusion, etc.) and maintained in culture indefinitely (e.g., in serial cultures).

Non-human animals described herein provide an in vivo system for the analysis and testing of a drug or vaccine. In various embodiments, a candidate drug or vaccine may be delivered to one or more non-human animals described herein, followed by monitoring of the non-human animals to determine one or more of the immune response to the drug or vaccine, the safety profile of the drug or vaccine, or the effect on a disease or condition and/or one or more symptoms of a disease or condition. Exemplary methods used to determine the safety profile include measurements of toxicity, optimal dose concentration, efficacy of the drug or vaccine, and possible risk factors. Such drugs or vaccines may be improved and/or developed in such non-human animals.

Vaccine efficacy may be determined in a number of ways. Briefly, non-human animals described herein are vaccinated using methods known in the art and then challenged with a vaccine, or a vaccine is administered to already-infected non-human animals. The response of a non-human animal(s) to a vaccine may be measured by monitoring of, and/or performing one or more assays on, the non-human animal(s) (or cells isolated therefrom) to determine the efficacy of the vaccine. The response of a non-human animal(s) to the vaccine is then compared with control animals, using one or more measures known in the art and/or described herein.

Vaccine efficacy may further be determined by viral neutralization assays. Briefly, non-human animals described herein are immunized and serum is collected on various days post-immunization. Serial dilutions of serum are pre-incubated with a virus during which time antibodies in the serum that are specific for the virus will bind to it. The virus/serum mixture is then added to permissive cells to determine infectivity by a plaque assay or microneutralization assay. If antibodies in the serum neutralize the virus, there are fewer plaques or lower relative luciferase units compared to a control group.

Non-human animals described herein provide an in vivo system for assessing the pharmacokinetic properties and/or efficacy of a drug (e.g., an Rs1 gene delivery drug). In various embodiments, a drug may be delivered or administered to one or more non-human animals described herein, followed by monitoring of, or performing one or more assays on, the non-human animals (or cells isolated therefrom) to determine the effect of the drug on the non-human animal. Pharmacokinetic properties include, but are not limited to, how a non-human animal processes the drug into various metabolites (or detection of the presence or absence of one or more drug metabolites, including, but not limited to, toxic metabolites), drug half-life, circulating levels of drug after administration (e.g., serum concentration of drug), anti-drug response (e.g., anti-drug antibodies), drug absorption and distribution, route of administration, routes of excretion and/or clearance of the drug. In some embodiments, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of drugs are monitored in or through the use of non-human animals described herein.

In some embodiments, performing an assay includes determining the effect on the phenotype and/or genotype of the non-human animal to which the drug is administered. In some embodiments, performing an assay includes determining lot-to-lot variability for a drug. In some embodiments, performing an assay includes determining the differences between the effects of a drug administered to a non-human animal described herein and a reference non-human animal. In various embodiments, reference non-human animals may have a modification described herein, a modification that is different than described herein or no modification (i.e., a wild-type non-human animal).

Exemplary parameters that may be measured in non-human animals (or in and/or using cells isolated therefrom) for assessing the pharmacokinetic properties of a drug include, but are not limited to, agglutination, autophagy, cell division, cell death, complement-mediated hemolysis, DNA integrity, drug-specific antibody titer, drug metabolism, gene expression arrays, metabolic activity, mitochondrial activity, oxidative stress, phagocytosis, protein biosynthesis, protein degradation, protein secretion, stress response, target tissue drug concentration, non-target tissue drug concentration, transcriptional activity, and the like. In various embodiments, non-human animals described herein are used to determine a pharmaceutically effective dose of a drug.

Kits

The present disclosure further provides a pack or kit comprising one or more containers filled with at least one non-human animal, non-human cell, DNA fragment, and/or targeting vector as described herein. Kits may be used in any applicable method (e.g., a research method). Optionally associated with such container(s) can be a notice in the form prescribed by a governmental agency regulating the manufacture, use or sale of pharmaceuticals or biological products, which notice reflects (a) approval by the agency of manufacture, use or sale for human administration, (b) directions for use, or both, or a contract that governs the transfer of materials and/or biological products (e.g., a non-human animal or a non-human cell as described herein) between two or more entities.

Other features of the disclosure will become apparent in the course of the following descriptions of exemplary embodiments, which are given for illustration and are not intended to be limiting.

EXAMPLES

The following examples are provided so as to describe to those persons of ordinary skill in the art how to make and use methods and compositions of the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the scope of what the inventors regard as their disclosure. Unless indicated otherwise, temperature is indicated in Celsius, and pressure is at or near atmospheric.

Example 1. Generation of Engineered Restinoschisin-1 Rodent Lines

This example illustrates the construction of a series of targeting vectors for creating modifications in a Restinoschisin-1 (Rs1) locus of a rodent. In particular, this example specifically describes the construction of targeting vectors for creating a disruption in an Rs1 locus (i.e., a null allele) and introducing one or more point mutations into one or more exons of the coding sequence in an Rs1 locus resulting in the production of a mutant Rs1 gene that encodes a variant RS1 polypeptide having one or more amino acid substitutions as compared to a parent RS1 polypeptide. The mutant alleles, were constructed by using synthetic DNA fragments that included single exons containing point mutations (see below). As described below, sequencing oligonucleotides were designed for mouse homology boxes and ligation QC. A self-deleting cassette (SDC) containing a Hygromycin resistance gene was cloned to create a donor for targeting of bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones. Two separate donors specific to each point mutation were confirmed by PCR and Sanger sequencing. Donors were linearized to remove backbone and used to target BAC clone DNA containing a rodent Rs1 gene to create mutant Rs1 genes. The modified BACs were confirmed by drug selection, PCR and Sanger sequencing across homology junctions, PFG electrophoresis, and Illumina analysis.

Briefly, for the null allele a deletion of exons 1-3 of the coding sequence (i.e., beginning 3′ of ATG codon in exon one to the 3′ end of exon three resulting in a 13,716 bp deletion) of a mouse Rs1 gene was made using a lacZ reporter construct placed in operable linkage with a mouse Rs1 promoter (i.e., in frame with ATG codon of exon one). The Rs1-lacZ-SDC targeting vector for creating a disruption in an endogenous mouse Rs1 locus was constructed as previously described (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,586,251; Valenzuela et al., 2003, Nature Biotech. 21(6):652-659; and Adams, N. C. and N. W. Gale, in Mammalian and Avian Transgenesis-New Approaches, ed. Lois, S. P. a. C., Springer Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg, 2006). An exemplary targeting vector (or DNA construct) for creation of a Rs 1 null allele is set forth in FIG. 2.

Briefly, the Rs1-lacZ-SDC targeting vector was generated using mouse bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clone RP23-213O8 (Invitrogen) and a self-deleting neomycin selection cassette (lacZ-pA-ICeuI-loxP-mPrm1-Crei-SV40 pA-hUb1-em7-Neo-PGKpA-loxP) as previously described (see, U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,697,851, 8,518,392 and 8,354,389; all of which are incorporated herein by reference). The Rs1-lacZ-SDC targeting vector included a Cre recombinase-encoding sequence that is operably linked to a mouse protamine 1 promoter that is developmentally regulated such that the recombinase is expressed in undifferentiated cells. Upon homologous recombination, a deletion including nucleotides 3′ of the ATG codon in exon one to the last six nucleotides before the 3′ end of exon three (13,716 bp) of an endogenous murine Rs1 gene is replaced by the sequence contained in the targeting vector (˜8,202 bp). The drug selection cassette is removed in a development-dependent manner, i.e., progeny derived from mice whose germ line cells containing a disrupted Rs1 gene described above will shed the selectable marker from differentiated cells during development (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,697,851, 8,518,392 and 8,354,389, all of which are incorporated herein by reference).

For a first mutant allele, mouse bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clone RP23-213O8 was modified to introduce a point mutation in exon three (TGT to AGT) of an endogenous Rs1 gene so that an RS1 polypeptide having a C59S amino acid substitution would be encoded by the resulting mutant Rs1 gene (FIG. 5). Additional deletions were made in introns two (25 bp) and three (28 bp) to facilitate screening of positive clones (FIG. 6). The point mutation and the deletions were introduced using a synthetic fragment made by de novo DNA synthesis (GeneScript, Piscataway, N.J.). The synthesized fragment, which included the mutant exon three and surrounding intronic sequence (5′ and 3′), was contained in a plasmid backbone and propagated in bacteria under selection with ampicillin. A hygromycin resistance gene was ligated to the synthetic fragment and appended with homology arms using restriction enzymes to create the targeting vector for homologous recombination with the RP23-213O8 BAC (FIG. 5). The resulting modified RP23-213O8 BAC clone was then electroporated into ES cells (see below). The Rs1C59S-SDC targeting vector included a Cre recombinase-encoding sequence that is operably linked to mouse protamine 1 promoter that is developmentally regulated such that the recombinase is expressed in undifferentiated cells (FIG. 5; see also, U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,697,851, 8,518,392 and 8,354,389; all of which are incorporated herein by reference). Upon homologous recombination, the synthetic mutated Rs1 exon three is inserted in the place of exon three of an endogenous murine Rs1 locus and the small deletions in the surrounding introns (i.e., introns two and three) are made by the sequence contained in the targeting vector. The drug selection cassette is removed in a development-dependent manner, i.e., progeny derived from mice whose germ line cells containing a mutated Rs1 gene described above will shed the selectable marker from differentiated cells during development (FIG. 7; see also U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,697,851, 8,518,392 and 8,354,389, all of which are incorporated herein by reference). Endogenous DNA containing surrounding exons, introns and untranslated regions (UTRs) were unaltered by the mutagenesis and selection cassette. Sequence analysis of the targeting vector confirmed all exons, introns, splicing signals and the open reading frame of the mutant Rs1 gene.

For a second mutant allele, mouse bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clone RP23-213O8 was modified to introduce a point mutation in exon five (CGC to TGC) of an endogenous Rs1 gene so that an RS1 polypeptide having a R141C amino acid substitution would be produced by the resulting mutant Rs1 gene (FIG. 8). In particular, a synthetic exon five containing the R141C point mutation described above was inserted in place of the wild-type exon five along with additional deletions in intron four (10 bp) and five (29 bp), which were included to facilitate screening of positive clones (FIG. 9). The synthetic fragment made by de novo DNA synthesis (GeneScript, Piscataway, N.J.). The synthesized fragment, which included the mutant exon five and surrounding intronic sequence (5′ and 3′), was contained in a plasmid backbone and propagated in bacteria under selection with ampicillin. A cassette that included a hygromycin resistance gene (using a loxP-mPrm1-Crei-pA-hUb1-em7-Hygro-pA-loxP, 5,032 bp) was ligated to the synthetic fragment and appended with homology arms using restriction enzymes to create the targeting vector for homologous recombination with the RP23-213O8 BAC (FIG. 8). The resulting modified RP23-213O8 BAC clone was then electroporated into ES cells (see below). The Rs1R141C-SDC targeting vector included a Cre recombinase-encoding sequence that is operably linked to mouse protamine 1 promoter that is developmentally regulated such that the recombinase is expressed in undifferentiated cells (FIG. 8; see also, U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,697,851, 8,518,392 and 8,354,389; all of which are incorporated herein by reference). Upon homologous recombination, the synthetic mutated Rs1 exon five is inserted in the place of exon five of an endogenous murine Rs1 locus and the small deletions in the surrounding introns (i.e., introns four and five) are made by the sequence contained in the targeting vector. The drug selection cassette is removed in a development-dependent manner, i.e., progeny derived from mice whose germ line cells containing a mutated Rs1 gene described above will shed the selectable marker from differentiated cells during development (FIG. 10; see also U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,697,851, 8,518,392 and 8,354,389, all of which are incorporated herein by reference). Endogenous DNA containing surrounding exons, introns and untranslated regions (UTRs) were unaltered by the mutagenesis and selection cassette. Sequence analysis of the targeting vector confirmed all exons, introns, splicing signals and the open reading frame of the mutant Rs1 gene.

Construction of each of the targeting vectors were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction and sequence analysis, and then used to electroporate mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells to create modified ES cells comprising the null and mutant Rs1 genes. The mouse ES cells used for electroporation were from a hybrid background (50% 129/S6/SvEv/Tac, 50% C57BL/6NTac; Auerbach, W. et al. (2000) Biotechniques 29(5):1024-8, 1030, 1032). The Drug-resistant clones were picked 10 days after electroporation and screened by TAQMAN® and karyotyping for correct targeting as previously described (Valenzuela et al., supra; Frendewey, D. et al., 2010, Methods Enzymol. 476:295-307) using primer/probe sets that detected proper introduction of the lacZ reporter gene or point mutations into an endogenous Rs1 gene (Table 1 and FIGS. 3, 6 and 9). Positive ES cell clones were confirmed by sequencing.

Positive ES cell clones were then used to implant female mice using the VELOCIMOUSE® method (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,294,754; DeChiara, T. M. et al., 2010, Methods Enzymol. 476:285-94; DeChiara, T. M., 2009, Methods Mol. Biol. 530:311-24; Poueymirou et al., 2007, Nat. Biotechnol. 25:91-9), in which targeted ES cells were injected into uncompacted 8-cell stage Swiss Webster embryos, to produce healthy fully ES cell-derived F0 generation mice heterozygous for the null or mutant Rs1 genes. C57BL/6N mouse lines have been reported to contain a mutation (Crb1^(rd8)) that complicates their use in the formation animal models of retinal degeneration (see, e.g., Mattapallil, M. J. et al., 2012, Immunol. Microbiol. 53(6):2921-7; Mehalow, A. K. et al., 2003, Hum. Mol. Genet. 12:2179-89). This mutation was corrected by crossing F0 generation heterozygous males with C57B16/NTac Crbs1 females to avoid any possible complications from this mutation. Resulting F1 heterozygotes from these breedings were then intercrossed to produce F2 generation homozygotes and wild-type mice for phenotypic analyses.

The generation of the engineered Rs1 mouse lines described above resulted in the creation of unique nucleotide junctions in each engineered Rs1 locus. For the null allele, the nucleotide sequence across the upstream junction point included the following, which indicates endogenous mouse Rs1 5′ sequence and a mouse Rs1 ATG codon (in uppercase font contained within the parentheses with the ATG codon indicated by brackets) contiguous with lacZ coding sequence (lowercase font): (GCTCTCCACT TCACTTAGAT CTTGCTGTGA CCAAGGACAA GGAGAAA[ATG]) ggtaccgatt taaatgatcc agtggtcctg cagaggagag attgggagaa (SEQ ID NO:33). The nucleotide sequence across the downstream junction point included the following, which indicates cassette sequence (lowercase font with an Nhel site indicates by brackets) contiguous with the last six nucleotides of exon three and the beginning of intron four of a mouse Rs1 gene (contained within the parentheses in uppercase font): cagcccctag ataacttcgt ataatgtatg ctatacgaag ttat[gctagc] (TTCCAGGTGA GTGGCTCAAC GCCCTAGCAT TCCTCCTTCC AACTCTTAAT) (SEQ ID NO:34). The nucleotide sequence across the downstream junction point after recombinase-mediated excision of the selection cassette included the following, which indicates remaining lacZ sequence (lowercase font with ICeu-I, loxP and Nhel sites indicated by brackets) contiguous with mouse Rs1 sequence (contained within the parentheses in uppercase font): atcccccggc tagagtttaa acactagaac tagtggatcc ccgggctcga [taactataac ggtcctaagg tagcga]ctcgac [ataacttcg tataatgtat gctatacgaa gttat gctagc] (TTCCAGGTGA GTGGCTCAAC GCCCTAGCAT TCCTCCTTCC AACTCTTAAT) (SEQ ID NO:35).

For the C59S allele, the nucleotide sequence across the upstream junction point included the following, which indicates endogenous mouse Rs1 exon three and surrounding intron sequence (uppercase font contained within the parentheses below with exon three inidcated by brackets and the mutated codon in bold font) contiguous with cassette sequence (lowercase font with a XhoI site in brackets and a loxP site in bold font) at the insertion point: (CTGGAGTGT ACCTTTGTTG ATAGAACACT TGTTTAGGAT TCGTGAAGGT AAACTGGGCA CCCATCTAGA AGCCCAGCAC TCAGAGGTGG AGACAGGAGG TCAGGAGTTC AACAAGGTCA TTCTCTGCTA CACAGTGAGT TTAAAATCGG CCTGGGATAC ACGAGAGAGA CCCTGTGTAA GAGCAGTAGC AGCAGCAAGA ACTCAAGCTG AAAAGGAACA TGCAGTGTAA GACAAAGGGC CACTGTGTGC ATAGAGCCAG CAACCTCACA CTGTAATGAA CGGGTCTGAC CTTTGCAAGT AAGCTTCTTG TGATGCTCTG GTTGAGCCTT TGACTACGAC TTTTGTGACT TGTGCTCCTC TGGATGCTTG CAG[GATGAGG GTGAGGACCC CTGGTACCAG AAAGCATGCA AGTGTGATTG CCAGGTAGGA GCCAATGCTC TGTGGTCTGC TGGAGCTACC TCCTTAGACA GTATTCCAG]G TGAGTGGCTC AACGCCCTAG CATTCCTCCT TCCAACTCTT AATCCCTCTG CTTTCTCTCA AGTTGGCTTG TGAGCTTCAC ATCTCACCGT GGCCACTGCT CCAACATTCT GTTCATTATC AAGTGCCAGG CTCTCTCCCT CCCTGGCTTG CCTGAGATGG TCAGGTAAGA CCC) [ctcgag] ataacttcg tataatgtat gctatacgaa gttatatgca tgccagtagc agcaccc (SEQ ID NO:36). The nucleotide sequence across the downstream junction point included the following, which indicates cassette sequence (lowercase font with I-CeuI and Nhel sites both in brackets, and a loxP site in bold font) contiguous with mouse Rs1 intron three sequence (uppercase font contained within the parentheses below) downstream of the insertion point: ttccatcaga cctcgacctg cagcccctag ataacttcgt ataatgtatg ctatacgaag ttatgctagg [taactataac ggtcctaagg tagcga gctagc] (AGCGTGAGGG AAGTCCCTTC CTCTTAGGTA) (SEQ ID NO:37). The nucleotide sequence across the insertion point after recombinase-mediated excision of the selection cassette included the following, which indicates mouse Rs1 exon 3 sequence and remaining intron three sequence (uppercase font with exon 3 indicated by brackets) juxtaposed with remaining cassette sequence (lowercase font contained within the parentheses below with a XhoI, I-CeuI and Nhel sites in brackets and a loxP site in bold font): CTGGAGTGT ACCTTTGTTG ATAGAACACT TGTTTAGGAT TCGTGAAGGT AAACTGGGCA CCCATCTAGA AGCCCAGCAC TCAGAGGTGG AGACAGGAGG TCAGGAGTTC AACAAGGTCA TTCTCTGCTA CACAGTGAGT TTAAAATCGG CCTGGGATAC ACGAGAGAGA CCCTGTGTAA GAGCAGTAGC AGCAGCAAGA ACTCAAGCTG AAAAGGAACA TGCAGTGTAA GACAAAGGGC CACTGTGTGC ATAGAGCCAG CAACCTCACA CTGTAATGAA CGGGTCTGAC CTTTGCAAGT AAGCTTCTTG TGATGCTCTG GTTGAGCCTT TGACTACGAC TTTTGTGACT TGTGCTCCTC TGGATGCTTG CAG[GATGAGG GTGAGGACCC CTGGTACCAG AAAGCATGCA AGTGTGATTG CCAGGTAGGA GCCAATGCTC TGTGGTCTGC TGGAGCTACC TCCTTAGACA GTATTCCAG]G TGAGTGGCTC AACGCCCTAG CATTCCTCCT TCCAACTCTT AATCCCTCTG CTTTCTCTCA AGTTGGCTTG TGAGCTTCAC ATCTCACCGT GGCCACTGCT CCAACATTCT GTTCATTATC AAGTGCCAGG CTCTCTCCCT CCCTGGCTTG CCTGAGATGG TCAGGTAAGA CCC ([ctcgag] ataacttcg tataatgtat gctatacgaa gttat gctagg//[taactataac ggtcctaagg tagcga gctagc] agcgtgaggg aagtcccttc ctcttaggta) (SEQ ID NO:38).

For the R141C allele, the nucleotide sequence across the upstream junction point included the following, which indicates endogenous mouse Rs1 exon five and surrounding intron sequence (uppercase font contained within the parentheses below with exon five in brackets and the mutated codon in bold font) contiguous with cassette sequence (lowercase font with a XhoI site in brackets and a loxP site in bold font) at the insertion point: (TCTTTCCTAA GGAAAAGAAT TAAGAGTCGG GCTATGTCTG AAGGCCCAGA TACCTCTTGA TGCTAGGTAA CCCTTCAAAA CTCAGCACCT GTTGGCTTTT TACAGACATA GATAAGAGGA_TGGCTCCTGG TAATTTGGTG TGTTCCTGGC AG[GTGTGCTT GGCTTTCCAA GTATCAGGAC AGCAGCCAGT GGTTACAGAT AGATTTGAAG GAGATCAAGG TGATTTCGGG GATCCTGACC CAAGGATGCT GTGACATAGA CGAGTGGGTG ACCAAGTACA GTGTGCAGTA TAGGACTGAT GAGCGCCTGA ACTGGATCTA CTATAAGGAT CAGACCGGAA ACAATCGG]GT AAGTGGGGGT CACTCCGAGT CAGCTTCAGC TCACACTGCG GAGACACACT CCATCCCTAT GTTCCTGCTG TCCGCGTCTG TCTGAGCATT GACCCCTCTA CATGCTGGGT CATCTG) [ctcgag] ataacttcg tataatgtat gctatacgaa gttatatgca tgccagtagc agcaccc (SEQ ID NO:39). The nucleotide sequence across the downstream junction point included the following, which indicates cassette sequence (lowercase font with I-CeuI and Nhel sites both in brackets, and a loxP site in bold font) contiguous with mouse Rs1 intron five sequence (uppercase font contained within the parentheses below) downstream of the insertion point: ttccatcaga cctcgacctg cagcccctag ataacttcgt ataatgtatg ctatacgaag ttatgctagg [taactataac ggtcctaagg tagcga gctagc] (TTTTCCAGAT GTGATCTGGG AGACTAGCAG) (SEQ ID NO:40). The nucleotide sequence across the insertion point after recombinase-mediated excision of the selection cassette (78 bp remaining in intron five) included the following, which indicates mouse Rs1 sequence (intron four, exon five and intron five in uppercase font) with remaining cassette sequence (loxP and cloning sites [78 bp] remaining in intron five, in lowercase font contained within the parentheses; XhoI, I-CeuI and Nhel sites in brackets, a loxP site in bold font): TCTTTCCTAA GGAAAAGAAT TAAGAGTCGG GCTATGTCTG AAGGCCCAGA TACCTCTTGA TGCTAGGTAA CCCTTCAAAA CTCAGCACCT GTTGGCTTTT TACAGACATA GATAAGAGGA TGGCTCCTGG TAATTTGGTG TGTTCCTGGC AGGTGTGCTT GGCTTTCCAA GTATCAGGAC AGCAGCCAGT GGTTACAGAT AGATTTGAAG GAGATCAAGG TGATTTCGGG GATCCTGACC CAAGGATGCT GTGACATAGA CGAGTGGGTG ACCAAGTACA GTGTGCAGTA TAGGACTGAT GAGCGCCTGA ACTGGATCTA CTATAAGGAT CAGACCGGAA ACAATCGGGT AAGTGGGGGT CACTCCGAGT CAGCTTCAGC TCACACTGCG GAGACACACT CCATCCCTAT GTTCCTGCTG TCCGCGTCTG TCTGAGCATT GACCCCTCTA CATGCTGGGT CATCTG ([ctcgag] ataacttcg tataatgtat gctatacgaa gttatgctagg [taactataac ggtcctaagg tagcga gctagc])TTTTCCAGAT GTGATCTGGG AGACTAGCAG (SEQ ID NO:41).

Taken together, this example illustrates the generation of three rodents (e.g., a mouse) lines whose genomes comprise engineered Rs1 loci. Such engineered Rs1 rodent lines provide in vivo systems for the elucidation of the biology and molecular mechanisms of Retinoschisis and for the development of therapeutics to effectively treat and or ameliorate such diseases.

TABLE 2 Primer/Probe sets for TAQMAN ® assays Name Primer Sequence (5′-3′) Rs1-KOmTU Forward TGGGACAAGTGTAAATGAGGAC (SEQ ID NO: 42) Reverse AGTGGTGCTTGGCCTTATGC (SEQ ID NO: 43) Probe TCCCAGGCAAATCAGGACAAAGGGTC (SEQ ID NO: 44) Rs1-KOmTD Forward GAGCCAGCAACCTCACAC (SEQ ID NO: 45) Reverse GCATCCAGAGGAGCACAAGTC (SEQ ID NO: 46) Probe TGTAATGAACGGGTCTGACCTTTGCAA (SEQ ID NO: 47) Rs1-C459SmTU Forward TCGTGAAGGTCTTGATTTGATCCT (SEQ ID NO: 48) Reverse ACCTCCTGTCTCCACCTCTG (SEQ ID NO: 49) Probe AAGCACCATGTAAACTGGGCACCC (SEQ ID NO: 50) Rs1-C459SmTD Forward CCCTGGCTTGCCTGAGATG (SEQ ID NO: 51) Reverse GGACTTCCCTCACGCTGAGTT (SEQ ID NO: 52) Probe TCAGGTAAGACCCAATTGTCAATGCA (SEQ ID NO: 53) Rs1-R141CmTU Forward GAGTCGGGCTATGTCTGAAGG (SEQ ID NO: 54) Reverse GCCAACAGGTGCTGAGTTT (SEQ ID NO: 55) Probe CCAGATTTGGGATGATACCTCTTGATGC (SEQ ID NO: 56) Rs1-R141CmTD Forward CCTCTACATGCTGGGTCATCTG (SEQ ID NO: 57) Reverse GGACTTCCCTCACGCTGAGTT (SEQ ID NO: 58) Probe GACCCACATTCATTTACAAACTGC (SEQ ID NO: 59)

Example 2. Characterization of Engineered Rs1 Rodent Lines

This example describes the characterization of engineered Rs1 rodent lines made according to Example 1. In particular, this example demonstrates the localization and distribution of RS1 protein in the retina of these engineered mice. Retinal architecture is also described for all engineered Rs1 lines.

LacZ Expression Profiling.

Mice were euthanized by CO2 inhalation. Eyes were enucleated and fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde in PBS (Electron Microscopy Sciences) for 3 hr at 4° C. After three washings with 1×PBS (ThermoFisher Sci.), eyes were dissected under a dissecting microscope. The anterior portion and lens were removed; the rest of the eye (eyecup) was stained with HistoMark X-Gal Substrate Set (KPL) for 2-days at 37° C. with gentle rotating. After staining, eyecups were rinsed with 1×PBS thoroughly, then were transferred to 30% sucrose overnight. The eyecups were embedded in Tissue-Tek® O.C.T. Compound (VWR) and frozen on dry ice. Twenty-micron cryostat sections were prepared on Superfrost® Plus Micro Slides. Sections were dried for 30 minutes at room temperature, then washed three times with 1×PBS to remove O.C.T. Compound, and coverslipped with ProLong Gold Antifade Mountant with DAPI (ThermoFisher Sci.) Representative results from male mice are set forth in FIG. 11A.

Rs1 mRNA Expression.

The expression pattern of Rs1 mRNA in the engineered Rs1 mouse lines described in Example 1 was determined by in situ hybridization using RNASCOPE® according to manufacturer's specifications (Advanced Cell Diagnostics). Briefly, formalin or 4% paraformaldehyde (PFA)-fixed and paraffin or O.C.T. embedded mouse eye cups were cut into 5 to 10 μm sections and mounted on SUPERFROST® Plus glass slides. The procedure began with 10 minute Pretreat 1 (ACD, 320037) at room temperature, followed by 20-minute boiling in Pretreat 2 (ACD, 320043) with Oster Steamer (IHC World, LLC, Model 5709) and pretreatment 3 (ACD, 320037) for 30 minutes at 40° C. in a HybEZ Oven (ACD, 310010). An additional DNase treatment step was included to reduce potential background from probe hybridization with chromosomal DNA. After pretreatment 3, slides were washes three times with water, and a solution of DNase I (50 u/ml in 1× DNase I buffer, AM2224, Ambion) was added to the eye tissue for a 30-minute incubation at 40° C. Slides were then washed five times with water, hybridized with RNASCOPE® probes for two hours at 40° C. and the remainder of the manufacturer's assay protocol was implemented (ACD, 322360) from Amplified 1 to Amplified 6. The slides were washed twice (two minutes each at room temperature) each step by RNASCOPE® wash buffer (ACD, 310091). After Amplified steps, signal was detected by incubation Red working solution (1:60 ratio of Red B to Red A) at room temperature for 10 minutes in the absence of light, followed by washing the slides in water several times and viewing under microscope. In some experiments, IHC technique was followed, fluorescent signals were visualized and captured using an open-field Nikon Eclipse Ti-E microscope. Representative results from male mice are set forth in FIG. 11B.

RS1 Protein Expression.

The protein expression level in various layers of the retina of wild-type and engineered Rs1 rodents was determined by Immunohistochemistry (IHC), Western blot and an ELISA assay. Representative results from male mice are set forth in FIG. 11C and FIGS. 12A-12D; and representative results from female homozygous KO (Rs1^(−/−)) and Rs1 heterozygous KO (Rs1^(−/+)) lines are set forth in FIG. 12E.

Immunohistochemistry (IHC).

Briefly, animals were euthanized by CO2 inhalation. Eyes were enucleated and fixed with 4% PFA (Electron Microscopy Sciences) in 1×PBS (ThermoFisher Sci.) for three hours at 4° C. After three washes with 1×PBS, eyes were dissected under a dissecting microscope. The anterior segment and lens were removed, and the rest of the eye (eyecup) was incubated in 30% sucrose at 4° C. overnight. Eyecups were then embedded in TISSUE-TEK® O.C.T. Compound (VWR) and snap frozen on dry ice. Ten-micron cryostat sections were prepared on SUPERFROST® Plus Micro Slide used for immunofluorescent staining. Sections on slides were encircled with Liquid Blocker Super Pap Pen (Electron Microscopy Sciences) and air dried 30 minutes at room temperature. Blocking solution was prepared as 5% normal goat serum (VectorLabs), 1% Bovine Serum Albumin (Sigma-Aldrich) and 0.3% Triton-X 100 (Sigma-Aldrich) in 1×PBS. Wash solution was prepared as 0.1% Tween 20 (Amresco) in 1×PBS. Slides were placed in a staining container with black lid, washed three times with 1×PBS to remove O.C.T. Compound. Blocking solution was added to slides and remained for one hour at room temperature. After removal of blocking solution, primary antibodies were diluted in blocking solution and applied to sections overnight at 4° C. On the second day, slides were washed three times with Wash solution. Fluorophore-conjugated secondary antibodies were diluted at 1:1000 in 1×PBS and applied on sections for one hour at room temperature (in the dark to avoid photobleaching). Slides were washed three times with 1×PBS and coverslipped with ProLong Gold Antifade Mountant with DAPI (ThermoFisher Sci.).

ELISA.

Briefly, mouse retina was isolated under dissection microscope and homogenized in 100 μl RIPA buffer per retina with cocktail protease inhibitors in metal bead tube with Omini Homogenizer. Protein concentration was determined with BCA kit and then stored at −80° C. until use (ELISA, Western blot). ELISA plates (NUNC) were coated with RS1 standard protein (Novus Biologicals, 0-40 ng/ml) and total retinal protein sample (1:2000 dilution in PBS) in triplicate at 4° C. overnight. After three washes with T-TBS solution (T-TBS buffer, 0.05% Tween20 in TBS solution), plates were blocked with blocking buffer (1% BSA, 5% goat serum in TBS) for one hour at room temperature. After 3 washes, anti-RS1 polyclonal antibody (Novus Biologicals USA, 1:4000 in blocking buffer) was added to the plates and incubated for two hours at room temperature followed by addition of biotin-conjugated goat anti-mouse antibody (Jackson Lab, 1:5000) and Strepavidin-HRP (Thermo, 1:200), and, finally the substrate working solution (R&D systems) in the absence of light. The reaction was stopped by 2N HCl. Optical density (OD) was recorded with SpectraMax Plus system (Molecular Devices).

Western Blot.

10-20 μg total retinal protein was loaded onto 4-12% Bis-Tris gels in sample buffer (Nupage LDS sample buffer, Thermo) containing 4% SDS for protein separation and then transferred to nitrocellulose membrane (0.45 μm pore size, Invitrogen) followed by blocking with SuperBlock T20 (TBS, Thermo) for one hour at room temperature. Blots were incubated with anti-RS1 antibody (Novus Biologicals USA, 1:4000) for two hours at room temperature or overnight at 4° C. After incubation with anti-RS1 antibody, HRP conjugated anti-mouse polyclonal antibody (Cell Signaling) was added at 1:5000 for one hour at room temperature. Protein bands were visualized and imaged using SuperSignal West Pico chemiluminescence (Thermo) by C-Dogit Blot Scanner (Li-Cor).

Histology.

Briefly, animals were euthanized by CO2 inhalation. Eyes were enucleated and fixed with Davidson's fixative (Electron Microscopy Sciences) for one hour at room temperature, transferred to Tissue Processing Embedding Cassettes (Electron Microscopy Sciences), and washed with tap water for five minutes at room temperature. Cassettes were fixed with 10% Neutral Buffered Formalin in Phosphate Buffer (Electron Microscopy Sciences). Eyes were processed through serial dilutions of ethanol, three changes of xylene and two changes of paraffin for embedding. Five-micron paraffin sections were prepared on SUPERFROST® Plus Micro Slide (VWR) and stained with hematoxylin and eosin according to manufacturer's specifications (Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) Staining (Regressive) Ricca Chemical Company). Representative results from male mice are set forth in FIGS. 13A-13B.

Taken together, this example demonstrates that the pathological features typical of the disease phenotype associated with X-linked Retinoschisis was recapitulated in the engineered Rs1 rodent lines made in accordance with Example 1. Thus, such engineered rodent lines are useful for the evaluation and development of therapeutics (e.g., experimental gene therapy).

Example 3. Functional and Morphological Analysis of Engineered Rs1 Rodent Lines

This example describes the characterization of the retina phenotype of the engineered Rs1 rodent lines made according to Example 1. In particular, outer retinal function in null and mutant Rs1 rodent lines made in Example 1 was evaluated by dark-adapted (DA-) and light-adapted (LA-) full-field electroretinograms (ERGs). Retinal architecture was also assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT). Representative results from male mice are set forth in FIGS. 13C and 14A-14C; and representative results from female homozygous KO (Rs1^(−/−)) and heterozygous KO (Rs1^(−/+)) lines are set forth in FIGS. 13D and 14D.

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT).

Briefly, in-life ophthalmic examinations were carried out on designated time points with Heidelberg Spectralis HRA+OCT system (Heidelberg Engineering, Franklin, Mass., USA). Animals were anesthetized with ketamine (120 mg/kg) and xylazine (5 mg/kg) intraperitoneally. Pupils were dilated using a 0.5% Tropicamide ophthalmic solution (Bausch & Lomb, Rochester, N.Y.). Infrared fundus images were taken from center and selected quadrant (normally nasal-superior and temporal-superior) followed by obtaining a series of 61 lateral optical scans for retinal morphological evaluation.

Electroretinography (ERG).

Briefly, animals were dark-adapted overnight and anesthetized (ketamine: 80 mg/kg; xylazine: 16 mg/kg), after which eye drops were used for pupil dilation (1% tropicamide; 2.5% phenylephrine HCl) and to anesthetize the corneal surface (1% proparacaine HCl). Needle electrodes served as reference (cheek) and ground (tail), and ERGs were recorded using a stainless steel electrode wetted with 1% carboxymethylcellulose. Strobe flash stimuli were presented to the dark-adapted eye and superimposed on a steady adapting field (20 cd/m²) after at least five minutes of light adaptation. Stimuli ranged from −3.6 to 2.1 log cd s/m². Responses were amplified (0.03-1000 Hz) and stored using an LKC (Gaithersburg, Md.) UTAS E-3000 signal averaging system. The amplitude of the a-wave was measured at 8 ms after flash onset from the pre-stimulus baseline while b-wave amplitude was measured from the a-wave trough to the b-wave peak.

Taken together, this example demonstrates that the phenotype displayed in the engineered Rs1 rodent lines described herein replicates that observed in patients with X-linked Retinoschisis. Further, variability in this phenotype correlates with the nature of the genetic mutation. The present specification specifically demonstrates the creation of non-human animal models of Retinoschisis. The pathological and functional features typically associated with X-linked Retinoschisis including the development of cystic structures within the inner retina and the characteristic reduced ERG b- and a-wave responses followed by a loss of photoreceptor cells were recapitulated in all three engineered Rs1 rodent lines described herein. Such engineered lines are useful for further understanding into the molecular mechanisms underlying the cellular disorganization of the retinal structure, and provide suitable in vivo systems for the development of gene therapies for the treatment of X-linked juvenile Retinoschisis.

Example 4. Early-Onset Phenotypes of the Retina in Rs1 KO Mice

This Example describes experiments conducted to investigate early-onset functional and morphological phenotype of the retina in Rs1 knockout (KO) mice described in Example 1.

The retinas of Rs1 KO mice and wild-type (WT) littermates were examined every three days between postnatal day 15 to 24 (P15, P18, P21 and P24) (FIG. 15). Outer retinal function was evaluated by dark-adapted (DA-) and light-adapted (LA-) full-field ERGs. ERG a-wave and b-wave amplitudes were analyzed with Naka-Rushton equation, yielding maximum response (R_(max)) and sensitivity (K) parameters. Retinal architecture was assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT).

The results from male mice are shown in FIGS. 16A-19C. The outer retinal function evaluated by dark-adapted and light-adapted ERGs indicated reduced b-wave relative to a-wave in all time points and retinoschisis phenotype was present throughout the observation time course (P15-P24). The Rs1 KO retinas also exhibited early photoreceptor defects, specifically, decreased a-wave amplitude, broader EZ, and thinner outer retina (ONL+PRL). In Rs1 KO retinas, the b-wave involvement was greater than a-wave for both amplitude and sensitivity, indicating early impact of Rs1 deletion on the synapse.

These observations indicate that retinoschisin plays important roles during early retinal development. 

1.-9. (canceled)
 10. An isolated cell or tissue of a rodent, wherein the genome of the rodent comprises a mutation in exon 3 or exon 5 of an endogenous rodent Rs1 gene, wherein the mutation in exon 3 or exon 5 encodes a C59S or R141C amino acid substitution in the endogenous rodent Rs1 polypeptide, respectively; wherein the rodent is a mouse or a rat; wherein the rodent expresses the rodent Rs1 gene comprising the mutation, and displays one or more symptoms of Retinoschisis when the rodent is a female rodent homozygous for the rodent Rs1 gene comprising the mutation, or when the rodent is a male rodent hemizygous for the rodent Rs1 gene comprising the mutation; and wherein the genome of the isolated cell or tissue comprises the mutation.
 11. An immortalized cell made from the isolated rodent cell of claim
 10. 12. A rodent embryonic stem (ES) cell whose genome comprises a mutation in exon 3 or exon 5 of an endogenous rodent Rs1 gene, wherein the mutation in exon 3 or exon 5 encodes a C59S or R141C amino acid substitution in the endogenous rodent Rs1 polypeptide, respectively; wherein the rodent ES cell is a mouse ES cell or a rat ES cell; wherein a rodent generated using the rodent ES cell and comprising the mutation in the rodent genome (i) expresses the rodent Rs1 gene comprising the mutation, and (ii) displays one or more symptoms of Retinoschisis when the rodent is a female rodent homozygous for the rodent Rs1 gene comprising the mutation, or when the rodent is a male rodent hemizygous for the rodent Rs1 gene comprising the mutation.
 13. A rodent embryo comprising the embryonic stem cell of claim
 12. 14.-25. (canceled)
 26. The isolated cell or tissue of claim 10, wherein the mutation is in exon 3 of the endogenous rodent Rs1 gene, and the rodent Rs1 gene comprising the mutation encodes an Rs1 polypeptide comprising the C59S substitution.
 27. The isolated cell or tissue of claim 10, wherein the mutation is in exon 5 of the endogenous rodent Rs1 gene, and the rodent Rs1 gene comprising the mutation encodes an Rs1 polypeptide comprising the R141C substitution.
 28. The isolated cell or tissue of claim 10, wherein the rodent is a male rodent.
 29. The isolated cell or tissue of claim 10, wherein the rodent is a female rodent.
 30. The isolated cell or tissue of claim 10, wherein the rodent is homozygous for the rodent Rs1 gene comprising the mutation.
 31. The isolated cell or tissue of claim 10, wherein the rodent is heterozygous for the rodent Rs1 gene comprising the mutation.
 32. The isolated cell or tissue of claim 10, wherein the rodent is a mouse.
 33. The isolated cell or tissue of claim 10, wherein the rodent is a rat.
 34. The rodent ES cell of claim 12, wherein the mutation is in exon 3 of the endogenous rodent Rs1 gene, and the rodent Rs1 gene comprising the mutation encodes an Rs1 polypeptide comprising the C59S substitution.
 35. The rodent ES cell of claim 12, wherein the mutation is in exon 5 of the endogenous rodent Rs1 gene, and the rodent Rs1 gene comprising the mutation encodes an Rs1 polypeptide comprising the R141C substitution.
 36. The rodent ES cell of claim 12, wherein the rodent ES cell is homozygous for the rodent Rs1 gene comprising the mutation.
 37. The rodent ES cell of claim 12, wherein the rodent ES cell is heterozygous for the rodent Rs1 gene comprising the mutation.
 38. The rodent ES cell of claim 12, wherein the rodent ES cell is a mouse ES cell.
 39. The rodent ES cell of claim 12, wherein the rodent ES cell is a rat ES cell.
 40. The rodent embryo of claim 13, wherein the mutation is in exon 3 of the endogenous rodent Rs1 gene, and the rodent Rs1 gene comprising the mutation encodes an Rs1 polypeptide comprising the C59S substitution.
 41. The rodent embryo of claim 13, wherein the mutation is in exon 5 of the endogenous rodent Rs1 gene, and the rodent Rs1 gene comprising the mutation encodes an Rs1 polypeptide comprising the R141C substitution.
 42. The rodent embryo of claim 13, wherein the rodent embryo is a male embryo.
 43. The rodent embryo of claim 13, wherein the rodent embryo is a female embryo.
 44. The rodent embryo of claim 13, wherein the rodent embryo is homozygous for the rodent Rs1 gene comprising the mutation.
 45. The rodent embryo of claim 13, wherein the rodent embryo is heterozygous for the rodent Rs1 gene comprising the mutation.
 46. The rodent embryo of claim 13, wherein the rodent embryo is a mouse embryo.
 47. The rodent embryo of claim 13, wherein the rodent embryo is a rat embryo. 